Below is this week’s 100 word story for Friday Fictioneers from the photo prompt by ©David Stewart
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Friday Fictioneers prompt for March 25, 2015 ©David Stewart
An Appropriate Send Off
As one of only four remaining founder members Nigel endeavoured to pass on the original ethos of the brass band to younger members.
Three rehearsals per week and a strictly traditional choice of music ensured the trophy cabinet was jam-packed.
When his funeral procession passed the bandstand a note-perfect slow march was performed with due sadness. The older members slipped off to the funeral.
Young Dominic took the baton.
A giddy excitement rippled through the band as secretly rehearsed arrangements of Bohemian Rhapsody, Mamma Mia and many more ‘modern’ classics burst into the air.
They played until midnight when the police arrived and asked them to be quiet.
©Siobhán McNamara
Dear Siobhán,
There’s always change with the passing of the baton. .I think the new band will win awards of their own. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle, I hope they do. 🙂
Wouldn’t you love a send-off like that? Made me think of Dixieland and how people in New Orleans celebrate someone’s life with cheerful tunes. That’s a wonderful picture to be inspired by. Really enjoyed the imagery you created.
Thank you Susannah, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Is that disrespectful or just the changing of the guard?
Changing of the guard and maybe just a little bit mischievous 😉
Fayetteville enacted a sound ordinance several years back (when I was still playing rock & blues). We were playing on the patio of a Mexican restaurant one night and got “too loud” according to the police. Thankfully, the restaurant paid the $500 fine.
I like the passing of the baton thought. Everyone has to march to their own drummer.
I’m glad the restaurant paid your fine Russell! Thanks for reading 🙂
Clever story – I really liked the sense of the ‘joy of music’ you get from the younger crew.
Well done.
KT
I’m really pleased that came across, KT. I actually had the words ‘joy of music’ in the first draft and took them out in the rewrite as I hoped to show rather than tell
I like how you can literally see the passing of the band from one generation to the other. Great job!
Thank you 🙂
I hope the young guard is still willing to mix in a little Sweet Georgia Brown from time to time. The old and new harmonizing. I enjoyed this very much.
Sounds like a lovely mix – I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I enjoyed this story, and how you portrayed old meets new.
But although change is inevitable, it is always good to retain some traditions.
It sure is. Thanks for reading 🙂
Sometimes change is needed. I like the path the new band leader is taking. Nicely done.
Thank you 🙂
I have found that funerals can be quite cheerful sometimes.. I would love such a reportoire at my funeral.
Thanks Björn 🙂
I wonder if they will still have a jam packed trophy cabinet… I’m sure the baton will be passed down within the judges circle as well, so who knows.
Great story 🙂
Thanks Rachel 🙂
I agree with Bjorn. That would be a lovely way to leave this earth with happy and beautiful music.
It sure would! Thanks for reading 🙂
Lovely. I like that they waited until Nigel had passed on. And I’m sure the ethos of the band won’t have changed, even if the repertoire has.
Thanks Margaret, I think they share his ethos, just not his taste! 🙂
Fun! I love the way the younger members were patiently biding their time until they could update their repertoire 🙂
Thanks Ali, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Heh, that was a great conclusion. Poor Nigel will rotate in his grave. I loved that the police had to send them home.
Thank you 🙂
Bitter sweet tale, nicely told.
Thank you 🙂
in life, change is the only constant. it’s time for the band to move on
Thanks plaridel 🙂
Siobhán, it’s interesting that your writing, accomplishes exactly what happens with the passing of that baton. The first part of the story, while Nigel still leads the band, has an older, sweeter feel to it. Then, when young Dominic takes the baton, the story, like the music makes a leap to a more up-tempo, modern feel. VERY well done!
Thank you Dawn, I’m glad it worked! 🙂
Love the passing of the baton from old times to modern, your have captured that so well. I can imagine Dominic ramping it up – a bit like Whoopi Goldberg in ‘Sister Act’.
Well done
Thanks Dee, That scene may well have been lurking somewhere in my subconsciousness
Got a chuckle out of it at the end. But the blue frog, here, doesn’t do anything. (No link.)
Thanks for reading, and for pointing out the blue frog issue – I’ll try and fix it 🙂
I loved it. What a great depiction of the passing of the baton.
Thank you 🙂
I like the idea of passing the baton or in my situation the scalpel to the next generation long before we die. I’m all for youthful innovation. Perfect take on the prompt.
Thank you! I hope if you are passing a scalpel that you’re a surgeon 😉
Yes but I could also be a very precise serial killer. (Insert evil laugh)
I think they should have played just one more night of the old classics, and invited the funeral goers to drop by. But that would not have made for such an interesting story!
Perhaps they will have a memorial event with all Nigel’s favourites 😉
Thanks fore reading Jan 🙂
Change is inevitable. Nigel and the older generation did their part by training Dominic and the younger generation. Now they have the knowledge and skills to grow (even if that’s in another direction) and reach more people through their music. Thanks for writing and sharing this!
Thanks for reading 🙂
I really enjoyed the fine balance between custom and change. Before we know it, it’s all changed.
Ellespeth
Thanks Ellespeth, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Dear Siobhan,
This was bloody marvelous writing. I loved it despite being slightly disturbed by the departed band leader rolling over in his grave. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
Thank you Doug 🙂
Times, they are changing. Great story.
Thank you 🙂
Dear Siobhán, Great story and every generation makes their own changes to their job position. Really well done! Nan 🙂
Thanks Nan 🙂
Well, at least Nigel passed on his love of the music, even though the venue changed somewhat. The fact that the community didn’t complain for hours as the band played on spoke well for the new venue. Good story and well done, Siobhan. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you Suzanne 🙂