CXXVI. Don’t Miss Rehearsal. July 25, 2024

>driving Lyft

>it is a tropical downpour

>it is raining like it did on Venus in that Ray Bradbury story

>I get called to the Polkinghorne Village, a FAMU dorm

>two guys come tearing out of the place carrying musical instrument cases

>they get in completely soaked

>we are heading to the band room about a half mile away

>first guy says “Where’s whatshisname and that other guy? Benjamin?”

>other guy is furiously texting, says

>”Man, they trippin. He said he ain’t going to rehearsal cause it’s raining too hard and he tired”

>”Doc ain’t gone like that”

>”No he ain’t. First thing they ever told me when I got here was don’t miss rehearsal”

>”I don’t know what’s gonna happen with them”

>I know what’s gonna happen

>their time in the Marching 100 will be briefer than they expect