Ties That Bond
2004

Turning right into the steep, curved driveway, I tried to concentrate on guiding the car between the concrete barriers that lined the top of the parking lot. Blocking out the booming bass that was resonating in my car, I managed to make it up to the front of the school, stopping opposite the huge, heavy double doors that marked the entrance. I’ve had just about as much of Simple Plan as I can handle, I thought, thankfully spinning the volume knob to the left as Brian yelled, “Pop the trunk!” over the blast of the music.

Reaching down under my seat, I jerked the handle and heard a click as the trunk opened. Various bangs and thumps followed as Brian hauled his trumpet case and slammed the trunk shut. I winced as I heard the thud of the case colliding with my car as he ran back around to the passenger side door. Sticking his head in, he yelled, “Thanks! And don’t forget, you promised to play me in Magic as soon as I get home!”

“When will you be done?” I asked, trying to get all the information I needed before he ran in for band practice.

“You can pick me up at seven-thirty, at the UDF down the street” he replied, anxious to run up and join his friends. “We’re going for ice cream after practice.”

“I might be a little late,” I cautioned. “I’m going to the library to work on some homework.”

“Oh, homework, yeah, I might want to do some of that,” he remarked thoughtfully, as if he had just realized that he had assignments to do. “Oh, well. I need to mow the Altineau’s lawn tonight, anyway. See you later!!”

He slammed the door, and I wondered idly just how much homework would get done tonight between me and him. I watched as he ran to join his friends, yanking open the heavy front doors with ease and laughing as he ran inside. That’s a life I’ll never know, I thought. Sometimes it’s hard to believe we’re in the same family.

Shifting the car into gear, I was preparing to navigate the windy drive about to the main road when the school doors flew open again. Brian came running out at top speed. Pulling open the passenger side door, he leaned in and punched a button. “Forgot my CD,” he announced, as he grabbed the disc that popped out of the CD player.

“You can take it!” I called back as he slammed the door. Laughing, he turned and ran back inside the dark hallways.