Lead Me Home by Stacy Hawkins Adams Page B

do, and again next fall, to see how the scores compare. That still gives me my senior year to take it a final time.”
    Shiloh patted Monica’s hand. She barely knew the girl but was already falling in love with her.
    “You’ll be fine. Do some research and narrow your list of potential colleges and let me know what you come up with. I’ll help you find an audition piece that will blow an audition panel away, if you nail it. Since you play by ear too, you may want to prepare a traditional piece, which I’ll help you find, as well as something contemporary—maybe a jazz or classical piece—that showcases the range of your talent.”
    The bell rang and Monica disassembled her flute with record speed so she could be on time for her first-period class. “Is it okay to leave my flute here, since I’ll be back in a couple of hours?”
    Shiloh nodded and pointed to her desk in the corner of the room. “Put it over there. See you soon.”
    Monica seemed giddy as she dashed out of the room. Shiloh felt a part of her heart go with the motherless girl. Whatever Monica’s hopes and dreams, Shiloh was now invested in helping birth them.

seventeen
    The end-of-class bell rang today before any of them were ready. Shiloh had been teaching only two weeks, but already had grown fond of her students, and was delighted to see they were warming to her as well.
    “Aw, man; I just got the notes right!” Evian quickly blew through the melody on his trumpet one last time before tucking away his music and packing up the instrument.
    “Keep practicing,” Shiloh encouraged him. “You nailed it, and it will only get better.”
    “Are you going to come and see the performance, Mrs. Griffin?” Tedra asked.
    Shiloh smiled at the petite girl with wiry blond hair and copper-rimmed eyeglasses. She played the clarinet and rarely talked, but it was nice to realize that just as she was aware of the countdown occurring with her long-term sub status, so were they. Shiloh had been pleased with their progress and had high hopes that Mrs. Helmsley would find her students fully prepared for the fall recital, which was scheduled for the first week in November.
    “Of course I’m coming, Tedra,” Shiloh said. “After seeing you guys work so hard, I wouldn’t miss the recital. I’ll be here sitting front and center, peacock proud.”
    Drew, one of the drummers, snickered.
    Shiloh grinned at him. “I know, I know,” she said. “Old-lady, Southern language. I’ve already been told I need to get some swag.”
    The class erupted in fits of laughter over her use of “their” cool word, then most of them ducked out to make it to their next class.
    Phaedra and Monica trotted over to hug Shiloh.
    “We love you, Mrs. G! You are hilarious,” Phaedra said.
    Shiloh hugged them both at once and chuckled. “Ya’ll just feel sorry for me.”
    “Ya’ll?” Monica said and giggled. “I love your accent and the funny things you say. You are so cute!”
    Shiloh smirked. “You girls are going to be late for your next class. Get out of here.”
    Phaedra took off with a wave goodbye. “Happy Monday!”
    “One more thing,” Monica said as she headed toward the door. “I read online last night about a summer music competition for young musicians at Columbia College Chicago. The students who audition and win a spot will work with professional musicians for four days to prepare for a weekend performance. Winners will be selected in various instrument categories to compete for a partial college scholarship and a chance to attend a national musicians’ conference, where they can network with professionals and learn more about music-related careers.”
    “Wow—you applying?” Shiloh asked.
    Monica nodded. “I have to audition, though. Will you help me find a really good piece?”
    Shiloh felt a knot forming in her stomach, but the smile never left her face. She of all people being asked to help this sweet girl with something as life-changing as