Playing To Distraction

Ryhanna, friends in tow, was on her way to class at Tinier High in Newark, New Jersey. She was an outgoing, vibrant, beautiful light brown skin girl with a beauty mark on her left cheek. She had just gotten out of her car when she noticed someone staring at her. When she looked, the girl turned away quickly only to resume staring afterward. Her name was Xina, the class weirdo. She dressed in a dowdy fashion, her clothes either wrinkled or smelly. What her problem was no one knew. But she had one thing going for herself, her imagination. She had just recently joined the orchestra and was outshining even Ryhanna. The conductor, Mrs. Golmy, no longer seemed to notice Ryhanna’s work and she was considered the best pianist in the school. All the others in the orchestra did not know what to make of Xina or what had made her join. She seemed very withdrawn when she had first arrived at the school, in one of those gifted kids programs. She was thirteen and in the eleventh grade, a year behind Ryhanna who was a senior. The girl was dark skinned, slim, and stood only five feet tall with big round glasses. Ryhanna just ignored the girl’s continuing stare and went into the school. The day went as usual. She talked to her friends and went to classes, to all of them, since she had been caught skipping and had been previously punished for it. It would only be a few days before she’d skip again anyway.

“We’re going to the mall after school, Ryhanna. Want to come?” a girlfriend asked.

“Oh sure. Wait, no! I can’t; I have practice after school. I’ll just see you later, Gail.”

“Alright. Catch ya,” Gail said as she walked into her sixth bell class. In route to her 6th bell class, a few doors down, Ryhanna sped it up.

Not seeing whom she had hit until she knocked her down, Ryhanna pushed past Xina. “Sorry,” she casually flew back over her shoulder. Xina picked up her papers and went to her class. The bell had rung and she was late.

After school Xina and Ryhanna converged for the chorus in room 209.

“Order, ladies and gentleman.” Mrs. Golmy raised her voice to get everyone’s attention. “We are now entering a national competition for the Composer of the Year award for all school districts and we’ve got to come up with some good stuff. Now, I’ve assigned some things you may want to set to music or you may venture out on your own. Whichever the case, I need it in by December 12th.” The moans in the classroom were many. “Yes, it’s only a week away. It will inspire you to work harder.”

“Mrs. Golmy, we need more time to compose something wonderful to get the top award.”

“Yeah,” everyone said in unison.

“I’m sorry but that’s the way it is,” Mrs. Golmy stated flatly. “The prize consists of 20,000 dollars and a paid semester at any specialty school of the student’s choice.”

“You mean like Julliard or the Governor’s Magnet school,” Xina said.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”

“What would you know about a school like Julliard, Xina? I thought they wanted classy well dressed people,” a girl sneered. The others in the class laughed. Xina sat quietly.

“Now that’s enough of that!” Mrs. Golmy said. “Meeting adjourned. I want those compositions modeled after the classics. Don’t forget!” Mrs. Golmy said as the students took their leave.

Ryhanna left the building to get in her car with her friends. On the way out, she noticed Xina staring at them. Ryhanna commented on it. “What’s wrong with Xina. You think she wants to be friends with us?”

“Xina is a nerdy little dweeb. What could possibly interest me in her?” The others seemed to agree.

“I don’t know. She seems so lonely.”

“Don’t go feeling sorry for her, Ryhanna. She’s one of those snobby rich kids who live over in Seslan’s lot. She probably thinks she’s too good for us.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“She just doesn’t dress the part!” her friends added.

“She‘s better left alone.”

“Why?”

“Haven’t you heard?” Ryhanna was silent. ” Her father is this big time crook. He does fraud and stuff like that and her mother is a sort of junkie. I wouldn’t want to be around when the feds bust in on her father’s fraud dealings. He calls himself a lawyer. Mr. Landau is something else.”

“That name Landau? That guy on TV is‑”

“Yep. He’s one and the same!”

“Whew! Poor, Xina!” Ryhanna arrived at home and went in her front door. Her parents were at each other’s throat as usual of late. Ryhanna couldn’t stand it. She ran in her room and shut the door. Her little brother Keith came in.