#bergen_county

"Trumpet. I mean, most girls go for the flute and I LIKE the Flute, but my family had a mariachi performer and he taught me the trumpet when I was young and gave me his used one and I kind of like it. It's bold, you know?"

"Clarinets sound like geese."

"Heh, well, trumpets don't sound great if you get them wrong either... but you know the worst if you play it badly? the violin. Man that is scratchy."

"Oooo, yeaahhhh."

"And I don't think they march."

"Like, isn't half the reason to be in band to do the parade?"

"Pity the poor Tuba carrier," She nods, "Gonna have to get ripped."

"ALso at our grade it's more music class than a proper band," A sigh.

Egon has to get up and gets told to sit down by the bus driver. Layne motions him to join her.

"Benny Goodman played the clarinet, too. Wonder if he shoulda been called Benny Goose-man."

"And lotsa people played trumpet. There's this one guy, who was always dizzy? Puffed out his cheeks like this when he played." She demonstrates.

"Dizzy Gillsipi I think? Oh I'm getting his last name wrong," Alondra says, "Hey your little brother okay? he's acting stressed."

"He's never okay."

"oh" A nod "I got siblings like that."

"Being in the middle is SO much responsibility."

"RIGHT?" She gasps "Okay, I'm on the younger end, but still I got younger so weight on the shoulders. And I'm totally overlooked, so no WONDER i need a trumpet, right? IT's a cry for help." She insists then smiles and winks "Also fun to wake my siblings with."

More giggles. "Devious! Delightful!"

"Just get a head start when they start to move," She advises. Then the school comes into view.

"Oh, I'm totally the fastest. I can fly right past them." She pulls her bag up to her shoulder. (Just one shoulder. She's cool. Fifth grade!)

One bag for sure! "Yeah? Okay. OH, hey, I think we have the same first period together, when we get out of here, want to sit together?" The bus slows to a stop, the door opens.

"Never-ever!" A grin and she offers a fist bump.

Returned! It looks like an alliance for the ages! Or at least the school day, is formed!

(Fade to First!)