I smiled. “I’ll help. I’m good at that stuff.”
Aaron grinned and bit into an Oreo.
“So we’ll have to start thinking about Grad dance,” Misa said, looking down the table to include everyone.
“We should go as a group,” Kerry said.
“Or do you guys want to go as couples?” Misa asked, her gaze lasering in on Lori and then me.
“I don’t need to go as a couple,” I said.
“What?” Aaron kicked me under the table. “You’re coming with me.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
I laughed at the look on his face. “Yeah,” I said. “I am.”
I wasn’t afraid of going solo anymore. But sometimes it was still nice to be part of a duet.
Acknowledgments
With thanks to the many people who helped me bring this story to life.
To Caryn Wiseman, my wonderful agent, who saw an early draft and said, “I think you’ve got something good here …” To my insightful editor, Stacy Cantor Abrams, who always asked just the right questions—this would not be the story it is without you. To Mary Kate Castellani, for taking over with very capable hands, and to Katy Hershberger and the rest of the incredible team at Walker & Company.
To Kimberly Fellner, my talented niece, for reminding me of all the things I’d forgotten about middle school band. I did my best to stay true to the band experience, but for the sake of the story, I took liberties with the rules of District Honor Band. I hope band members will forgive me.
To the teens who read early versions and provided feedback: Kassidy McDonald and Alison Ochs. To Rachel, who read for me even though there were no vampires or demons, and to Kyle, who inspired the character of Andrew right down to the chin hair. (Some stuff you just can’t make up.) To critique partners Marty Murphy and Anita Weiss, and the all-knowing Daphne Atkeson, who reads everything first and never leads me astray. To Gene Lauritano, who offered to read my first manuscript and turned out to be such a great editor, he’s stuck with the job forever.
Hugs to the Class of 2k11—what would I have done without your support and wisdom? And, most especially, authors Kiki Hamilton and Gae Polisner, who also read parts of this book for me.
To Susan Fellner Schanerman, for all those Tuesdays at the bookstore, and to my extended family for cheering me on.
To everyone who read OyMG and asked for the next book—thank you!
Finally, to Jake, who never played an instrument, can’t sing on key or find a beat, but who is always in-tune with me. I love you.
Also by Amy Fellner Dominy
OyMG
Copyright © 2012 by Amy Fellner Dominy
All rights reserved. You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
First published in the United States of America in September 2012
by Walker Publishing Company, Inc., a division of Bloomsbury Publishng, Inc.
Electronic edition published in September 2012
www.bloomsburykids.com
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, Walker BFYR, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dominy, Amy Fellner.
Audition & subtraction / Amy Fellner Dominy.
p. cm.
Summary: Tatum, a fourteen-year-old clarinetist, competes with new student Michael for a spot in honor band, while trying to maintain her friendships and relationships.
[1. Bands (Music)—Fiction. 2. Musicians—Fiction. 3. Interpersonal relationships—Fiction. 4. Friendship—Fiction. 5. Middle schools—Fiction. 6. Schools—Fiction.]
I. Title. II. Title: Audition and subtraction.
PZ7.D71184Au 2012 [Fic]—dc23 2011050973
Book design by Nicole Gastonguay
ISBN 978-0-80272-395-6 (e-book)
Audition & Subtraction Page 18