Suzie’s House 288 : Tracy and Bruce Practice

Reymond Ungar could hear voices coming from the band room. Though the sound was faint, it was persistent, and entirely too familiar. He stifled a groan. Apparently Tracy Martin was at it again.

He marched down the hall, intending to nip whatever she had going in the bud. At least this time the lights were off and there weren’t students lining the hall. Auditions! To think a student would have the nerve to use his class room for something so high-profile without consulting him first.

The sound of a synthesizer set too loud followed by shushing noises came through the door. Rey threw the door open and stepped inside.

“Miss Martin. What did I tell you about…” Rey’s voice gave out on him. Could that really be Bruce Benson next to her? The same Bruce Benson he had run off from school grounds a dozen times while he was smoking with his friends? The Bruce Benson who he had caught giving a younger boy a swirlly in the men’s John? A harder case Rey had never seen and there he stood behind a keyboard?

“I’m sorry, Mr. Ungar.” Tracy had her guitar half way out of the case. She stopped in that position and looked panic stricken. “Um….”

“No.” He didn’t give her a chance to argue. “Out. Both of you. Right now.”

He thought he’d have to prod a little harder. Tracy could be pretty stubborn. But instead, the two of them put their instruments away and left as meekly as a pair of lambs. No way Rey was buying it. They must have some trick up their sleeves. He followed them out.

“I told you we should do it at your place,” Bruce grumbled.

“My aunt said no.”

“So?”

“Look, I’m just a crasher there, right? If I make her mad too much, she’s going to kick me out. And then it’s off to Iowa or Arizona, or Pennsylvania, or wherever it is Mom went to last. If I can even find her at all. Maybe I’d end up crashing on you.”

“What about your boyfriend?”

“He’s just a crasher too. So what about your place? Huh? I mean, when do you ever do what your dad says anyway? Right? Let’s go practice there.”

Bruce clenched a fist. “No. Not going to do it.”

“Well then, why can’t you get us into one of those clubs you were talking about? This time of day they must be empty, right?”

“So that really is the only reason you want me in the band.” Bruce growled like a tough guy, but Rey could hear and undercurrent of hurt.

“Is that what you really think? Don’t kid yourself. You’re in the band because you can make us sound good. I’m not saying I don’t want to play in your clubs. I mean, that’s fine, right? But we’re like a long way from that. We’ve got to get good first, and first we’re doing the t…”

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” Bruce sounded disappointed. “But you know, we’ve got to do something about a regular place to practice. This drifting around all homeless is a pain.”

“I know. Right?”

The two of them swept through the door, leaving the school. Rey waited a minute or two to make sure they didn’t come back, then returned to the band room. He felt kind of sorry for the kids, but there was no way he could let them use the band room. He’d be accused of playing favorites and run into all kinds of problems with his students. Better to just let it go.

Half an hour later Rey locked up the band room and headed out to Jennifer street. A sound to his right caught his attention. It was Bruce and Tracy. They sat under the awning over a door into the school and played while snow fell all around them.

Much as he didn’t want to admit it to himself, the kids were both good. A lot better than most of the students in his orchestra. What a terrible waste of talent.

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