So I had this crazy idea for a story, so I figured, "Why the hell not?"
Be gentle, it's my first time sharing my stories with other people!!
A special thank you to "sexyinaf" for all the help!
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After over ten years since graduation, I finally made it back to a football game. I intentionally chose to not go to homecoming because I really wanted to fly under the radar and just go back to see the teachers I got along with. So Friday night, I watched an entire crappy football game back at my old high school Alma, mate. The band did their show at halftime as usual.
On my way out of the stadium, I started talking with an old classmate of mine, who also had the same idea over catching a game and paying respects, but not wanting to move in and live on memory lane.
We had been talking for over forty-five minutes when he said he needed to get going. I said goodbye and started to walk out to my car. I figured it was a long shot that anyone would still be in the band room, but I swung by anyway. Ah, the band room, so many memories came from this room. Within the walls of this room, I started my musical career. All instrumental classes were held here. This was the place I had perfected my craft and conducted my first orchestral piece. So many memories came from this room. So much of my life had been spent here. The door was unlocked but not open. I could see the light on in the office so I figured I wasn't too late.
I walked in and there was no one there but Ralph, sitting at his desk, talking on the phone. So just like old times I stopped in the doorway, and very quietly knocked. Without waiting for a response, I walked into his office and sat down on one of the old wood chairs he still had in his office. They were the same old chairs that I sat on when I played my first audition piece. I looked around the small but spacious room, at all the old photos and flyers from previous years.
So many memories came flooding back, all mostly pretty good, a few bad and a few rather uncomfortable ones too! He saw me and smiled, as his eyes lit up. He quickly said his goodbyes on the phone and immediately stood up and said, "Wow! It's great to see you," as he embraced me in a hug. His arms lingered around my waist.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"It has been," he replied. His embrace was very strong but felt good after all this time. We sat back down and he asked, "Would you like a beer? I was just about to get one myself; it's been a long week."
"Yeah, I'd love one," I said. He reached down to the mini-fridge he had under his computer desk and retrieved two cold drinks and handed me one of them. I popped the cap and we started talking.
We talked for hours! About old band days, and the troubles of running a section, and conducting and how life tends to take weird turns as it plays out. I told him about what I was doing with my life and he shared the same. It was nice to have a conversation where the other person actually listened to what I was saying. Three beers later he noticed the ring on my finger and asked "So, I see you're married. Congratulations."
"Thanks," I replied and told him a little of my husband. About how we met and the life we had built. I tried coming up with a good sounding excuse as to why he wasn't here with me. My words stammered and I said, "Truth be told, he just wasn't interested in reliving my high school days."
I then asked him, "How about you? Anyone manage to tie you down yet?" I said this and smiled; not only at the S&M joke that I thought was pretty funny, but the fact that the rumor when I was in school was that he was gay. I very wisely had chosen the word "anyone" instead of "lady", just to keep life simple.
"Well, there have been a few special somethings, but nothing too serious." I could see an evil look in his eyes, like the kind I used to be afraid of in high school. "And at my age, the odds are a bit slim," he added.
"You're not that old," I replied. "Just how old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"
He chuckled a bit and said, "forty-five," very matter-of-factly.
"See," I said shaking my head. "You're not that old. You're actually the same age as my husband."