Swip
"Yes, Melody?"
Mr. Verim answers astonishingly fast, without looking at her raised hand.
"Oh no."
Melody whispers to herself surprised he actually called on her, somehow.
"Uhm. I was just-"
Melody backs out of her sentence, immediately regretting wanting to ask anything. She furiously scans Mr. Verim's desk, looking for another reason to have talked to him in the middle of a slow study session. Melody's face starts to shade pink in embarrassment. Her thoughts rush, instead of looking for a likely reason, she jumps at the first thing she sees; a lump underneath a bunch of papers.
"Uhhh, curious! I was just curious about what that is?"
One of the covering sheets of paper jostles loose and reveals a brass shine underneath.
Mr. Verim looks up to her to see her pointing, then back to his desk lump.
"Oh! Caught your eye, did it?"
Mr. Verim seems to lighten up, his stern and focused face melting into a smile, his eyes catch some sunlight and shrink into a small silver pearl.
"Yeah!"
Melody takes it, if this is what got his demeanor to change, she wasn't about to let the opportunity slip away.
"Lucky!"
Melody pumps her fist in excitement, in her head.
"Aheh, well, thiiiiis-"
Mr. Verim reaches from his seated position, furthering his grab by lifting his entire right side over.
SHFFF SHUFF
"Ah! This is a Tenor Horn."
Snatching the brass instrument up, Mr. Verim stands to show her, and the few students now paying attention to his Ah! He raises the instrument and turns it for everyone to see. Melody feigns bright interest by holding her hands at her cheeks.
The instrument is held high and turned in a slow semi-circle. The students can assume its function as it simply looks like a regular old horn, strewn and twisted with brass pipes around its small frame. The single pipe leads round and round until crossing and then finishing in a giant flourish with its wide-brimmed bell. The grimey shine reflects vaguely in the front student's faces, not enough to blind.
"Ooooh. Do you play?"
She exclaims, now speaking as one of the students rather than her awkward one-on-one. Taking the moment to slowly move back to her desk, as this seems to be an oncoming lesson, or in the least, an interesting bit of entertainment from their teacher. A good break from their hard days' work.
"Ah! Yes, actually, now that you address it."
He fully turns to the class, everyone looking at him.
"Everyone, please pay attention."
Redundant, but thorough. Though this does cause pens and pencils to fall to the student's desks. A clamor of,
Penk Clik Kik Cak
"This is a Tenor Horn, and it sounds like this-"
Mr. Verim sets the horn to his lips, clearing his throat shortly. A collective hush settles over the room as students sit up in their chairs and fix their elbows to desktops.
PReeeREooWroOOttt
Mr. Verim blows a heavy air through the instrument, which works to create a mix and mess of sounds that are likely not the intended sound. Mr. Verim pulls his lips away to watch as the class laughs in tandem. He shares a smile from behind the horns mouthpiece.
"Well, I said I could play, I just didn't say if I could play it well."
He lets the instrument fall loosely in his hands, shrugging his shoulders and he wears an aloof expression. The class roars with laughter. Melody breathes in deeply, able to, now that the heavy weight is raised from her chest. Feeling a bit better about her odds at asking him to tutor her. Their shared Blessed trait makes Melody think she could be capable of so much more, it would just take some expansive learning that he could provide.
"He's got a good laugh."
Melody catches herself thinking suddenly, looking at him enjoying the class's presence.
"Well then, what say you give it a try, sir?"
Mr. Verim holds the horn at arm's length, hovering his choice over Lawrence, a tall and thin boy nearest him at the front.
He shakes his head at the notion, showing fear in his eyes.
"N-no, no thank you!"
He shoves his hand upright, palm facing Mr. Verim to decline his offer.
Mr. Verim doesn't seem to be much of an offering type, instead heavily suggesting he take it, as it's already touching his palm with the slightly cold brass.
"Ah-"
"Thank you, yes, please take a stand."
Mr. Verim holds Lawrence at his elbow, raising the boy to his feet. The shy young man darts his gaze around, looking at all of the potential mockeries.
"I really don't think-"
Lawrence is hit on his back, a hard and assuring pat to knock some action into him.
"I really do think, Mr. Lawrence."
Mr. Verim's voice drops slightly, speaking to his student almost as if giving an order.
Lawrence lowers his shoulders, a deep begrudging shrug. Giving one last hesitant review of the class, he breathes in surely. He closes his eyes, and the students closest to him turn their heads a bit, plugging the closer side with a finger just in case.
PReeeREooWroOOttt!
Continued in PART TWENTY-FOUR…