School memories

In 9th grade I had an orchestra concert where we played Dvorak's New World Symphony. I was on timpani; for those who don't know, it's a key instrument in that piece. On the way home to change for the concert after my first day of driver's ed (I was not driving) some asshole ran a red light and plowed into us. While waiting for the police I called my friend who was a violinist to tell ehr I would be late to the concert, but I didn't tell her why. I was still a little in shock.

So we get home and there's about seven messages from friends saying "You have to get here." "Mr. H is pissed." "He's going to flunk you." etc. etc. etc. So now, not only do I have the shock of the accident, but this hanging over my head. So we get to the school five minutes before the concert's supposed to start (about 25 minutes later than I was supposed to be there) and that's when I break down as everything sets in.

As I get myself under control a fellow percussionist comes up and says "Your dad's going to beat up Mr. H!" Sure, enough, my dad's in the hall with Mr. H backed up against a wall, in his face saying "How dare you threaten my daughter with flunking her after she's been in an accident!" Mr. H said he didn't know about the accident as I hadn't said anything until after I got there. My dad just continued, "Well, you should know my daughter better than that. She would never blow off something this important, etc." Just the image of my dad being that confrontational for my sake...

I did play very well though.