Kateri O'Leary goes to Creativity Camp

By Shirley Martin

When her elementary school starts a Band program, Kateri really wants to play the flute, but ends up with her aunt's hand-me-down bassoon. Clive, the Grade 5 class bully, already teases her about her red hair and freckles. Now he adds her unusual instrument to the list of things he can torment Kateri about. Lack of money adds to Kateri's stress...she really wants to join her friends Sarah and Penny and go to Creativity Camp, but it costs more than her family can afford. Will she get to go to the camp? And if she does, has she improved enough at playing the bassoon to have a shot at winning the Talent Show prize? Not if that bully Clive Culpepper has anything to do with it!!!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shirley Martin
• Release date: Nov 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9780992061579

Book preview

Chapter 1

S ettle down class, settle down, said their Grade Five teacher in her soft French accent. "We are starting our morning with a very important announcement."

Kateri turned to look at her friend Sarah, then they both turned to their friend Penny, eyebrows raised. The classroom door opened and in danced their music teacher, corkscrew curls bouncing and silver earrings jangling.

Madame Bonnechance

Good morning, Madame Bonnechance. Good morning class, she trilled.

Good morning, Ms. Bebop, their teacher said. I told the students there is some exciting news to share.

Yes! said Ms. Bebop, glancing around the room with sparkling eyes. I am going on tour! With my trio. We’ve been hired to be the opening act for the ‘Decibel Dynamos’ on their North American tour. The ‘Clamdiggers’ have hit the bigtime!

Kateri looked at Sarah again, then Penny, wondering, What will happen to our music class?

As if reading her mind, Ms. Bebop continued, You are all no doubt wondering what will happen to your music class. Well, I have more exciting news!

The class tried to track her as she bobbed around, bouncing from foot to foot. You will have a new music teacher for the rest of the year. He comes with amazing credentials. And …she paused dramatically, "he comes with a new music program!"

But I like the music program we have now, thought Kateri.

Oh, this is so exciting! babbled Ms. Bebop. This is a pilot program. We have special funding. You, Grade Fives, are going to be taking… she paused dramatically, …Band!

Sam put up his hand. Yes? asked Ms. Bebop.

Band doesn’t start until Grade Eight. It’s a High School thing!

That is the usual timing on our island, said Ms. Bebop. But because your new music teacher is a qualified band teacher, the School Board wants to make the most of it. They found some extra funding so that the intermediate classes – Fives, Sixes and Sevens – will take Band.

You are very lucky, added Madame Bonnechance. And it will be an accelerated program.

Sam raised his hand again. What does that mean?

It means, said Madame Bonnechance, that you will be learning in a shortened time frame. Accelerated means ‘speeded up’. You will be learning very quickly…vite vite vite!

Exactly! agreed Ms. Bebop, beaming from ear to ear. And now I must take charge of the Grade Threes. They await me in the music room; I hear the clanging of cymbals. Toodeloo! She danced out the doorway, turning to call, You’ll meet your new teacher this afternoon!

---

At recess Kateri walked around the soccer field with Sarah and Penny. Wow, we’re going to be taking Band! said Penny.

It’s a good thing Ms. Bebop taught us how to read music! said Sarah.

Yah, she was so strict with teaching us the recorder, and all the notes, said Kateri. And she makes music so much fun!

I hope this new teacher is fun too, said Penny.

I guess we’ll find out this afternoon, said Sarah.

She’s sure excited about going on tour, said Kateri. I can see why the ‘Clamdiggers’ were asked to go. She has a great voice, and the musicians in her trio are awesome. Whenever we hear them play at the craft fairs, my parents can’t help dancing.

I know, said Penny. My dads always start dancing too.

Yah, the ‘Clamdiggers’ are an awesome trio, agreed Sarah. But I wish they weren’t going on tour.

Don’t you want to take Band? asked Penny.

I’m not sure, said Sarah. It depends on what the new teacher is like.

That’s for sure! said Kateri.

Chapter 2

The students fidgeted on their hard benches as Ms. Bebop danced around the room. Your new teacher will be here soon, she promised. He texted me to say his ferry was delayed, but they’ve docked and unloaded. He should be here in five minutes!

Sam raised his hand, and asked, Do we get to pick what instrument we want to play?

Well…there will be choices. But your new teacher has the final say.

Where will we get our instruments? asked Penny.

He will tell you all about the instruments, and how to acquire them. And it will be a speeded- up process, so the Band classes can start very soon.

Clive thrust his hand in the air. I want to play the drums! he said, beating his hands on his knees and then on the top of Kateri’s head.

Ouch, Kateri said, turning to glare at him. Cut it out!

Calm down Red, I’m just practising my rhythm. Sounds great on your hollow head!

Now Clive… Ms. Bebop said, then turned to a loud knock on the door. She rushed to open it, and the students looked up, way up, at the man towering above her. Come in, she said, and meet the Grade Fives!

Beaming, she turned to the class and said, This is Mr. Adagio.

The class stared. Mr. Adagio was very tall. Probably around 6 and a half feet, thought Kateri. He had long legs and arms, and long bony hands. His face was also long and thin and topped with a wild mop of jet-black hair. He wore a dark brown suit. Very formal, thought Kateri. As the class continued to stare, Mr. Adagio tugged on his mustard yellow tie. It’s got music notes on it, thought Kateri.

Good day class, said Mr. Adagio in a deep voice. We will get right into the program. This is to be a speeded-up process. You are all now officially on the fast track of becoming Band musicians.

Not much of a fast track if he keeps talking that slow, thought Kateri, turning to roll her eyes at Sarah.

We will begin with a power point of the instruments of choice, he continued. Ah, Ms. Bebop, I see you already have the equipment set up. How very efficient of you. I will start the tape recorder and play the music in synch with the computer images. Please begin…. now.

The students stared at the screen and listened to the accompanying soundtrack.

Cool! breathed Sam at the edgy sound of the saxophone.

Mmmmm, sighed Sarah at the mellow tones of the clarinet.

Now we’re talking! said Clive at the beat of the snare drum.

Josh and Liam both perked up at the sound of the trumpet.

Kateri looked around at her classmates, then froze as she heard something light and airy, something bright and clear. What is making that amazing music? she wondered. Her eyes swerved back to the screen and saw…perfection! Long and slim, a delicate tube of silver…perfection!!

Flute

On the way home after school, the girls chattered about Band class.

I want to play the clarinet! said Sarah. It has such a cool sound!

Me too, said Penny.

Oh, that would be great! Then we could practise together!

Yah, said Sarah. Hey Kateri, may-be you could play the clarinet too! Then we could be a trio.

No, said Kateri. I’m going to play the flute!

---

Kateri walked in the front door, hung up her coat and backpack, and headed straight to the kitchen. Her mom was bent over her typewriter, fingers flying over the keys.

Hi Mom. How’s your newspaper article coming?

Oh, hi Kateri. I’m not working on my article right now. I’m writing a poem.

Oh, said Kateri. I thought your article was due tomorrow?

It is. But this poem is in my brain. It’s like a bird, trapped in a cage.

Oh, said Kateri, thinking, But you said we really need the money from the newspaper article.

I won’t be able to concentrate on anything until I finish writing this poem. It needs to be set free, into the world, to fly like a bird.

Oh, said Kateri again. Well, I’m going to fly like a bird and get my homework done. Where’s Belle?

In the backyard. Don’t worry, she’s fenced in.

Okay. Kateri whistled out the back door and her Red Setter came bounding in and followed her up to her room."

Pulling her little mouse Murphy out of his cage and settling him on her desk, Kateri sat