The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements Page B

said. “Yes, you can. You can count on me.”
    Hart smiled and stuck out his hand, and after a half second’s hesitation, Mr. Meinert shook it, surprised by the strength he felt there, the energy and the sincerity.
    â€œGreat!” said Hart. “Well … I’ve got to go back to detention. So … see you Monday.”
    Mr. Meinert nodded, turned, and walked out the door, heading toward his car.
    As he pulled in a deep breath of cold November air, he had to smile. And just as it had earlier, one word jumped into his mind: Brilliant!

Twelve
AS VIEWED FROM ABOVE
    T he chorus room was not the only part of Palmer Intermediate School that was buzzing with fresh activity. Hart had been elected sixth grade chorus director at approximately 1:30 on Thursday, November 18. At 3:30 that same afternoon Mr. Richards had gotten a phone call.
    â€œMr. Richards?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œThis is Melanie Baker. I’m Karen Baker’s mom, and she’s in the chorus this year. Well, today after school Karen told me that a boy named … is it Hart? Or maybe it’s Bart … well, anyway, some sixth grade boy is the director of the chorus now. And she said that the music teacher just lets the kids go wild. Have you heard anything about this?”
    He had not heard, but Mr. Richards didn’t say that. He said, “Mr. Meinert is the chorus director, and he’s an exceptional teacher. Iknow the chorus is working hard to prepare for the holiday concert these days, and if Mr. Meinert has asked the students to take part in planning the concert, then the room might be a little more active than usual. Is your daughter upset about this?”
    Mrs. Baker laughed. “Who, Karen? She’d die if she knew I was calling you. She loves how crazy it is, and she told me that tomorrow she’s taking her CD player and some little speakers so she and her friend can practice dancing. It’s me, I’m the one who’s worried. It just sounds a little out of control.”
    The principal assured Mrs. Baker that no part of the intermediate school was out of control at any time, and that he would keep a close eye on the progress of the chorus.
    The second phone call was waiting on hold before Mrs. Baker had said good-bye.
    â€œHi, Mr. Richards, it’s Maureen Kendall. If we can, I’d like to request a schedule change for my son, Thomas. He’d like to switch to a study hall after lunch, maybe in the library? Right now he has chorus during that period, but from what he’s told me about that class, Ithink he’d do better if he could have a quiet study time instead.”
    The principal explained that midyear schedule changes were not possible, and then he assured Mrs. Kendall that chorus was the right place for Thomas, and that any confusion in that room was only a temporary condition.
    By the time he left for the day, the principal had spoken with two other parents about the situation in the sixth grade chorus.
    Mr. Richards was not a naturally nosy person. But he was responsible for the quality of learning and the daily safety of every student, and if there was a problem in the chorus room, or in any room, he needed to know about it. So he decided that the next day he would do a little snooping.
    Friday after lunch, instead of heading straight back to the office from the cafeteria, Mr. Richards walked outside across the playground, back inside through the gym door, down the hallway past the media center, into the auditorium, across the stage, and out the door on the other side. He was headed toward the chorus room.
    He heard the class the second he turned the corner into the long hallway, and the noise increased with each step he took. And when the principal peeked through the window of the closed door, it didn’t look good. Kids were sitting around on the floor, chairs and tables were pulled into disorganized groups all over the place, the noise was far above any acceptable