Chapter 10: I stopped thinking

I was joyous to find my french horn safe and in working condition. I pulled it in to the main band hall and pushed the door leading outside open, and felt something small push past my feet. And the small black lab came into view, he was a small ball of energy. The sweet older woman who I was with this morning motioned for me to come over. She handed me my drill card and asked where the puppy came from. I told her I found it in a practice room. I didn't lie to her, I just didn't tell her that it wasn't a puppy. I couldn't bring myself to tell her it was a lonely pianist. Cars started pulling up to drop off kids. And I started to get worried for the pup's safety. A parent was frustrated because of the pup jumping in between cars. They tried to run the puppy over. I love animals and can't stand people who try to hurt them. I'm told I ran out in to the middle of the street and almost got ran over. I don't remember doing that but I do remember turning around and picking up the small dog. Then walking toward the driver's side and banging on their window. She didn't like the tone I took up with her when I asked why she tried to kill the innocent animal, and tried to drive away. I reached in to her car and took her keys out of the ignition. She was furious and got out of the car. I walked off angry and walked into the band hall. I went straight to my locker and opened it with the combination in my drill card. I placed my instrument inside and chucked her keys inside too. She howled as I did this and got even more upset. I marched towards the main director's office with the bickering mother in tow. And he looked confused at me with the small puppy and the shouting parent he recognized for being easily upsetable. He signed saying it was too early for this under his breath. And said he would handle this and for me to go get ready for practice. practice was about to start in fifteen minutes. I rushed over to the office nextdoor and practically begged him to let me borrow a different school instrument.