Chaotic Crescendo

Sebastian’s foot tapped as his head whipped about. Two figures approached from different directions. The nearest figure was his friend, carrying a sack over his shoulder. The other was an elegant man with hands clasped behind his back and a baton tucked under an arm. When Jimmy reached his friend, he dropped the bag next to Sebastian with a muffled clatter. Sebastian grasped his friend’s arm. “Look, the maestro’s on his way. Please don’t do anything to scare him. Just act like a normal person.” “That’s offensive.” Jimmy shook his head as he opened the bag and removed a tambourine. “I’m the poster child for normal.” “What did you haul over here?” Jimmy tapped the tambourine with a grin as the cymbals rattled and gestured at the approaching conductor. “I brought everything I’d need for my big musical debut.” Sebastian examined the sack and groaned. “You brought a collection of tambourines.” “Not just tambourines,” Jimmy said, pressing the one in his hand against his stomach. He stepped forward, lifting a finger. “I also brought tuning forks. And one triangle, for the emotional range.” Sebastian shook his head, burying his face in his hand. “Don’t embarrass me.” The conductor stopped a stone’s throw away from the friends, licking his lips. He eyed the bag, the pair, and the bandstand. It wasn’t much, but it would do for this impromptu audition. He gestured to the stands. “Mm, there’s a moody sky. We should have excellent resonance. Let’s begin with the Largo. Two bars in, you cue me and then follow my lead.” “Understood,” Sebastian said with a nod as he hustled to the stand. The conductor smiled as he withdrew the baton and tapped his thigh. “Finally, a flutist who listens.” Jimmy paused halfway to the bandstand and brandished his tambourine like a royal scepter. “I don’t play a flute. I’m here to add the percussion.” The conductor’s gaze whipped from Sebastian to Jimmy several times before he closed his eyes. “You’re with him?” “Unfortunately,” Sebastian said, his head dropping. “Very well.” The conductor tapped his baton on his thigh and took a deep breath. “One note out of time and I’ll leave.” Jimmy dropped his bag and elbowed Sebastian. “No pressure!” As the Conductor lifted his baton, raindrops pelted Sebastian’s head. He looked up and found the large hole in the canopy. He shook his head and moved to a drier section. “Why does the universe schedule rain just for me?” “At least you’re pre-watered.” Jimmy said, clapping Sebastian’s back. “This way you’ll grow better.” With a grumble, Sebastian took a brief breath and began a slow, mournful melody. Within moments, the conductor’s baton began controlling the course of the music. At a brief pause in the piece, Jimmy leaned forward. “Is it my cue?” Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he flashed a glare at his friend. “Not yet.” The conductor eyed Jimmy as he continued to lead Sebastian through his piece. After several more somber moments, Jimmy leaned forward during another lull. “How about now?” “No!” Jimmy’s shoulders slumped as the song meandered in its somberness. However, after a few moments, when the song began to turn brighter, Jimmy’s face glowed as he added the jingle of his tambourine to the song. Sebastian whirled around and leaned toward his friend, waving a finger under Jimmy’s nose. “What are you doing?! You’re not even involved in this!” “What was that?” The conductor rushed forward and slammed his baton on the bandstand’s stone floor. “Why’d you disrupt the piece?!” “It felt like the perfect time to add a touch of the tambourine.” Jimmy eased his friend back as he stared at the conductor. “It was meant to add emphasis, drama, a flourish!” “It sounded like a raccoon stuck in a shopping cart!” The conductor ran his hand through his wet hair as he chewed his lower lip. “That’s interpretation!” Jimmy shook his head as he wrapped his arm around his instrument...