Rosetown Summer by Cynthia Rylant

Author:Cynthia Rylant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Published: 2021-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

8

Flora had never been inside Rosetown High School, and when the day of Nessy’s concert arrived, Flora wondered what she should wear. She didn’t want to look too young. High school students intrigued her, they were so confident and stylish, and she didn’t want to seem an awkward child among them. When Flora told her mother she was nervous about being in the midst of so many teenagers, her mother replied, “Oh, I think the audience will be mostly parents, dear. The high school kids will probably be at the movies.” This information reassured Flora somewhat and also further added to her curiosity about the life of a teenager: she wondered what movie they would go see.

But today was about Nessy, who had spent the week with music students of all ages and was about to make the leap from piano recital to concert. Sunny and Happy Girl would have to wait at home: Nessy was going onstage!

When Flora and her parents arrived at the high school, they walked through the front door of the building and down the hallway leading to the auditorium, where the concert would take place. Flora was excited to see the interior of Rosetown High for the first time. It seemed to her a place of very serious learning. And it was so big compared to the elementary school. She loved the flights of stairs, the rows of lockers, the glass display cases filled with trophies. She wanted to go into the classrooms and see the kinds of books teenagers read.

“I think I’ll like high school,” she told her parents.

“Most people do,” her father said. “It’s a very alive time.”

A very alive time. Flora wondered what that would mean for her, for Nessy, for Yury. Flora loved the past: old houses, old towns, old ways of life. But walking through this building, she felt a new interest in the future.

“I’ll probably join a lot of clubs,” she said.

They arrived at the entrance to the auditorium, where two students handed them programs. Then they found some seats near the stage. Many people were saying hello to one another, mothers and fathers sharing their excitement. Flora’s mother was right: there were many parents, and some young children, and the teenagers were at the movies. Flora spotted Nessy’s parents near the back corner, with Nessy’s older brother, Michael. Flora rarely saw him when she visited Nessy’s house because he was always busy with his activities. Michael would go away to college soon. But today he was here for his sister, not at the movies.

The seats were filled, and the program began. First the conductor stepped out from behind the curtains, baton in hand, and told the audience how wonderful it had been to work with “these very special musicians.” She told them how important music education was and that all children everywhere should have the opportunity to play an instrument if they wished to learn. She said that music brings happiness.

Then the heavy velvet curtains behind her opened, and there were all the young musicians.

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