CHAPTER 1 

DONEVAN BROWN

    I walked in the door and even before I got my backpack off my back my mom rushed up to me and said, “Don, your dad and I have decided to sign you up for the musical program. It starts in 15 minutes so you might want to hurry. We know you will enjoy it.” 

So here I was walking down Old Chestnut Street. It's not a busy street, there are some chestnut streets on both sides of the road. So I kept walking  to the musical school. I once heard from a boy that you have to practise a lot and that when there is only one scratch on your instrument you get yelled at. And you learn dumb songs. It was probably not true. I had to go there and there was no way out. And besides I did not want to go.

 Most of my friends could play an instrument but they never went to the musical school. It was too expensive and too hard. I knew nothing about music and therefore I had to go to the musical program. “I am almost there,” I said to myself, “and I don't know what will happen.” I could see the building and I guess most people were there. 

I entered the door of the music school and a fat chubby guy with a blue suit came up to me and  greeted me. “Are you Donevan Brown?” he asked in his dark voice. I just nodded. “Welcome to this musical program. I am sure you will enjoy it here.” I just nodded dumbly again. “Room 23 is your home room where you will receive music lessons.”

I walked in and I counted the numbers on the doors. 30, 29, 28, 27, 26. Then a girl walked up to me. I had no idea who she was. “Are you a new student in our musical class?” 

I nodded and said “Ya, I am. Donevan

t know anything about music but I had to go to this music school. I was forced.” 

She laughed “Well, I was forced into this program too and I did not like it the first day. But after my first year I really enjoyed it.” 

I just smiled. Like, ya right that was going to happen to me.  I was determined to hate it.

Chapter 2 

Cloe Johnson 

I was sitting in class talking to Julia. When a boy came in. I did not recognize him. He looked lost. Then Mr. Smith said, “Welcome Donevan. You may sit right beside Cloe.” He looked very confused. Of course he did not know who I was. 

So I raised my hand and said “I am Cloe,” so he came and sat next to me.

Then the teacher closed the door and walked to the front. “Hi guys. Welcome back to this musical program. Let me introduce Donevan Brown.” Everyone looked at him. I even caught myself staring at him. There was something about him that made him look nice. I knew something special was going to happen this year in this musical program. 

But Mr. Smith went on, “This year we are also going to make a band. We all play different instruments but this year, in this room, we will practise some songs together.  And, in the middle of the year there will be a competition.” 

I raised my hand. “Yes Cloe?” said Mr. S. 

“Sir, we have 10 people in our class, is that not too many?” 

“No, it's not. I figured it all out!” said Mr. S. with a smile.

 “Ok guys, get to the class you are supposed to be in. Donevan, you're going to learn how to play the trumpet, that's in room 28.” 

I walked to my next classroom where I play the flute. I was thinking about the band that Mr. S. was talking about. It was going to be great 

In flute class, Miss Wilson was waiting for me and Julia. “Hey ladies, welcome back. Are you excited?” 

I nodded, “Yes, of course, I am excited and the class is doing a band.” 

“Sounds fun,”  Miss Wilson said with a polite smile that gave away that she really wasn’t that interested .As I packed my flute into the case Donevan came by with a sad look on his face. “Hey Donevan, what's wrong?” I asked. He looked at me and a faint smile appeared on his face. “You're Cloe, right?” he asked. 

“Yes, I am but you don't look so happy.”

He nodded and said, “I will tell you on the way home.” I was surprised that he was willing to walk home with me. Most boys have a crush on somebody but they are too afraid to ask to go for a walk. 

We walked down the street and he explained his gloomy disposition, “I am better at playing the trumpet than I thought. And I don’t want to be good because I always told my friends I suck at playing any instrument.” 

“That’s not that bad,” Cloe said, confused.

“There’s more to it.  I always bullied the people that were good at music and now I am one of them.”  

I spoke up. “Now I understand.  You know what you should do? You should go up to those people and apologize for being mean.”

“If I do that, then my friends will bully me,” he said with a sigh.

“I will come along” I said this without thinking 

He stared at me like I had a head made out of chocolate. Then he answered, “No.”

Chapter 3 

DONEVAN BROWN

Class was finally over and I packed my backpack and walked outside, heading home. At home I picked up my trumpet and started playing a lullaby. But my thoughts were not with the song. They were at the music school. Cloe was right that I would like music lessons.  

I was disappointed though I didn’t know why.

He continued, “It's not that you are annoying, it's just that you don't go to our school and I don't want you to be bullied.”

A shock of excitement ran through me. He cared about me!!!!

That was the first time a boy, besides my dad, cared about my feelings. 

I was late that afternoon for music lessons. And everybody was practicing already. So I walked straight to my trumpet room. There was my teacher practicing with John and Maya. “Hey Donevan, glad you could make it.” John smiled.  I practiced and practised an hour. 

And my teacher was surprised. “You're making good progress. I think it won’t take long before you are all caught up with the rest.” 

I was late that afternoon for music lessons. And everybody was practicing already. So I walked straight to my trumpet room. There was my teacher practicing with John and Maya. “Hey Donevan, glad you could make it.” John smiled.  I practiced and practised an hour. 

And my teacher was surprised. “You're making good progress. I think it won’t take long before you are all caught up with the rest.” 

I was all beside myself with excitement. I was going to thank my parents for sending me to the musical program. When we were done we went through a quick drill of how to clean the trumpet. I was still a bit clumsy with holding my trumpet and cleaning it at the same time. 

    I stepped outside and I was disappointed that I did not see Cloe that day. But right at the moment Cloe caught up to me. 

“Hey Donevan, tomorrow were going to start a band!” 

“Wow, that's going to be fun. And my teacher said that I will be caught up with the rest of the trumpet players soon”

“Wow, you got talent Donevan,” she said with a big watermelon smile. 

“Thanks” was the only word I said.

“Would you like to go to my house and practise there.” 

“Sure that would be great!” I replied

at Cloe’s house her mom welcomed us. She did not even ask who I was, which was unexpected but nice. So I figured that Cloe had probably told her about me. When we were done our snack of cookies and a glass of milk, we went to the basement where Cloe's room was. I thought her room would be all pink. But when I entered the room the wall was light blue with pink dots and her furniture was white. So, way different than I had imagined a girls room to be like.

"Hey, where are you with your thoughts?” Cloe said, waving her hand in front of my face to get my attention.

“Oh sorry. I thought a girls room would be all pink and yours is not.”

She laughed “You're wrong about that, Don.”  I felt butterflies in my stomach, only my mom called me Don. We got our instruments out. She played the first song. She was AMAZING and I told her, “Your amazing Cloe” I said.She smiled and said “Am I amazing or the music I play is?” 

“Both” I replied instantly. An even bigger smile appeared on her face. We practised for an hour. Then Cloe asked right before I left, “Can I have your phone number?” 

Chapter 4  

Mr. Smith

“I am astonished how well your son, Donevan, has progressed in the band.”  I am sitting with Mr. and Mrs. Brown. They were glad he liked the music program

“He used to hate music. The first day he came home, he did not even say thank you. The second time he said he was so happy he was put on the music program.” said Mrs. Brown 

it was friday so I had to hurry for music lessons. Band had turned out splendidly. I entered the music room and turned the lights on. The first student to come in was Julia.

“Hey Julia, you're early” 

“Hey Mr. Smith. Yes, I am early. I thought I could practise for the band and that you could help me with one part.”

“Sure” I replied. She got her violin out and opened her book on a music stand. And pointed to one of the cords.“Sir, I don't get that cord, it makes no sense.” I looked at where she pointed, “Oh Julia this book has some mistakes in it, let me get a new book for you.” I walked to the book shelf but there were no books. The whole shelf was empty 

“Sorry Julia, but I can't find the books.”

“Were they not on the shelf?” she said with a puzzled look

“I thought so too, but they’re gone” I called the office immediately 

“I think somebody broke into our classroom. Some instruments 

and books are gone.”

“Yes, I have gotten more complaints from other teachers too.  I think I will call the police.

Chapter 5 

Donevan Brown

R iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii nnnnnnnnnnnn ggggg! the recess bell rang.

“You can take your break,” said my teacher,  looking over the tower of paperwork he has to check.  I had to drag myself outside. It took 2 minutes to zip up my coat and 5 minutes to tie my shoes. Really I did not want to go outside. 

Because outside the bullies who used to be my friends were waiting for me. But since I got to go to the music school they hated me because I stood  up for the people that went to the music school and I got bullied for that. 

I pushed open the door and there they were waiting for me. The biggest bullies in town. Danial and Gavin. “Hey Donevan, how was practicing the trumpet last night?” they said in a fake motherly tone. 

I tried to ignore them and walked on. But Daniel put one foot out and tripped me.     

“We asked you something, bro. You can’t just walk away, you're so rude.” said Daniel. 

I stood up again and asked, “What do you want?” 

“We want the old Donevan back. The one that will bully the m

It was like a torment going outside. 

Then unexpectedly Gavin pushed me hard against the wall. I hit my head hard. For a split second I saw stars but then a flame of pain shot through my head and I could feel a bump growing on my head. Meanwhile the bullies had run away. I walked back inside and asked for an ice pack. 

usic kids,” said Gavin while he stared at me. His eyes were sparkling fire. He was mad at me. This is the reason I did not want to go outside.

“Hey Donevan, why do you need an ice pack?” I wanted to lie about it because I did not want to tattle tale on the bullies; it would just make things worse. So I said, “I fell on my head.” 

“Would you like to call home so your mom can pick you up? Because I believe your nose is starting to bleed too.” I did not realize my nose was bleeding until now

“Sure I will call my mom.” I said. 

“Hi mom.” 

“Hi Don. What’sup?”

“I hit my head. Can you pick me up.”

“Sure Donevan. I will be there in 10 minutes.”

“Ok thanks mom,” I put my phone away and I got an ice pack. I walked up stairs to get my backpack. Luckily no teacher saw me

I stepped in the car. “Hey Don. Do you feel ok?” 

“Yah, I am fine.” I said. I don't think my voice sounded too convincing because my mom said, “Do I need to bring you home or are you ok coming along to the grocery store.

“Yes, I'll be fine,” I tried to sound more convincing this time.

It was busy at the store. 

“Hey Donevan.””

 It was Cloe who came up to me.

“What are you doing?I wanted to go see if my favorite pizza was there. I looked through the glass door to see there were so many pizzas.

she asked. I did not want to lie to her and she knew about the bullies anyway. So I told her what happened during recess. She looked at me with pity in her eyes, “This can't go on like this. Does your mom know?”

“No, I told her I hit my head.” 

“You should tell her.” she said. Anyways, see you at music lessons tonight,” then she walked away. I walked back to mom with my favorite pizza in my hand

Chapter 6 

Cloe Johnson

    I was excited for music lessons. I am always excited for music but today we were going to draw lots for the music piece we were going to play at the contest. We were all allowed to put a piece of paper in the cap with the piece we wanted to play. I was curious to see what piece was going to be picked. So that afternoon I walked to my class room and lots of my classmates were there already.

I took my usual seat beside Julia.

Are you curious what piece is going to be picked?” whispered Julia in my ear.  

    “Yes.” I whispered back but couldn’t say anymore because  then Mr. Smith walked up to the front and picked up the cap. 

    “Ok guys, here we go. I will pick 3 papers and out of those three pieces we will vote.  He picked 3 papers then he read what's on the paper.

Number 1: symphony No. 3. Number 2: Ode to Joy and number 3: Second waltz.” Then Mr Smith asked who voted for number 1.  5 hands went up. Who voted number 2, 

only 2 hands went up. Who voted for number 3, 3 hands went up  including mine. 

“Then Number one, Symphony No. 3, wins. And if we make the finals we will play number 3 the Second waltz. Agree?”  Everyone nodded. 

Chapter 7 

Donevan brown

“Don are you ready to go to the competition ” called my mom 

I was still practicing my trumpet. I did not want to make a mistake. I packed  up my trumpet but first I checked if the keys were still oily enough. It was a 30 minute drive to the music hall where all the music schools would gather for the competition.

We just arrived at the hall when a minibus of our school pulled up. 

I did not go on the bus because my parents were coming too so I could drive with them. We entered the hall and my parents found a seat in the front. I walked to the room where our school could store instruments and eat our lunch. I when I entered the room my band mates were there already 

“Ok guys. Are you ready to play? We are the forth band in line.” said Mr Smith. I noticed that he was nervous too. We all followed Mr Smith to a row of chairs. On the first chair a paper was taped, it said “Reserved for the Chestnut Band.” We all sat down and Cloe came to sit beside me and Julia was on her other side. More people came in, parents and grandparents were all there. The lights went out and the spot lights came on. They were pointed at the stage and a band came on. On the screens on the side it said that this was the “Bad dog band”. When they were ready, they started playing. I did not recognize the song but they definitely did not sound as good as our band would. They played perfectly through the piece.