This story will be told in a series. The next parts will be longer. In part 1 I give some background. Hang in, it heats up.
*
It is another painfully hot day in the south, typical for the beginning of the summer, at least where I live. Although I graduated from high school last month, I have been asked by the band director to work with the band over the summer. I am a very good drummer, and played in the drum line all through high school. I also played competitively with a local team, so I have plenty of experience. With several of us graduating, there is a desperate need to rebuild the line, so I agreed to work with the band, especially the new members, over the summer.
This morning I drove to practice at 7:30, along with my sister, Ally, who is a rising senior. She and I are what some people refer to as "Irish Twins." We are not really twins, but were born in the same year. I turned 19 in January of this year, and she will turn 19 in December. As kids we moved around a lot, with both parents being in the military, and we were both held back a year in middle school. We moved from a crappy school system to one that was much more progressive With the start date for school years back, we were put into two different grade levels, even with our being born the same year. That explains the age difference and how she is still in school while I have graduated. Ally thinks this sucks, but that is just the way it is. I have rather enjoyed being a grade level ahead of her, especially when she first started high school. I was able to help her get assimilated, and was also a grade ahead, which allowed me the opportunity to sort of look out for her. I am a bit protective, but have gotten better through the years.
Our first day of summer band practice went well. Both Ally and I were beat at the end of the day. It was hot, we were sweaty, we were worn out. As soon as we got in the car, Ally started griping about the air conditioner.
"Turn the AC on, Ryan! It is too fucking hot in here!" Ally said.
"Give me a minute, will you?" I replied.
"Well, hurry up, I am about to die in here!" Ally shouted.
It did not take long for the car to start cooling off, which was a good thing, as we had nearly thirty minutes to drive before we reached home. I did stop by a country store on the way and got each of us a drink.
"Thanks for the soda, Ry," Ally said.
For as far back as I could remember, that is what she called me. Ry. My full name is Ryan, but she normally calls me Ry, especially when she wants something.
"No problem," I replied.
We continued to drive home, with very little conversation. Ally was drinking away on soda while at the same time leaning into the AC to cool off. She also had the radio blasting. We do not share the same taste in music, but I have found that it is much easier to just let her pick the music she wants to listen to rather than insisting on my own stations. She does not give in very easily.
We reached the house. We live in a small country town outside of a larger city. We don't live on a farm or anything like that. We have neighbors, but our yards are between three and five acres. That puts a little distance between us and the people on either side. We also have a deep back yard that backs up to a wooded area. There is a farm on the other side of the woods, but it is a long ways back there. I like the location of the house because it does give us some privacy. Where we used to live we had neighbors right next to us, and they could see everything going on in our back yard. This is different. We have a private back yard, with a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. We make good use of both.
As we got out of the car, I felt a sharp pain in my back, like a nerve or muscle or something. The thirty minute drive home made my back tighten up, and shit it was really sore as I tried to move.
"God, what the hell?" I shouted.
"What's the matter Ry?" Ally asked.
"I am not sure, but I think I must have pulled a muscle or strained something during practice. I don't remember it hurting like this, but it has been a while since I used the drums, and carrying them all afternoon has really put my back out of sorts." I replied.
"I know it is hot, but it might help if you got in the Jacuzzi for a while. That is what I do when I have a sore muscle." Ally suggested.
"I might do that after dinner. It is too damn hot right now." I replied.
"Whatever," Ally said.
We both went into the house and sat down in the family room absorbing the nice cool air.
"Would you like a glass of ice water?" Ally asked.
"Sure." I replied