Free Real Hoops by Fred Bowen Page B

you play,” she said. She turned toward Ben’s section. “The saxophones are playing too fast. Listen to the rhythm. Ellington wants the band to swing—not race—through this song.”
    The twenty musicians in the Roosevelt “B” jazz band shifted nervously in their metal chairs. Ms. Rackey tapped her batonon the podium. “Let’s try it again. Duke Ellington’s ‘Take the A Train.’ One … two … ah, one, two, three, four.”
    The band started the song again. “That’s it. Trumpets a little softer,” Ms. Rackey said, raising her voice over the music. “Saxes swing with the rhythm … Hold that note a little longer, Ben. Work the finish.”
    As he played, Ben could hear the old jazz tune coming to life. He could almost feel the train in the song rumbling uptown under the streets of New York City.
    When the band finished, Ms. Rackey smiled. “Better, much better,” she called out. “That’s it for today, people. Remember, we’ll have tryouts for the two soloists next week.”
    The musicians gathered up their instruments, cases, and sheet music as the music teacher kept talking. “Practice that Gerry Mulligan piece, everyone. The winter concert is only four weeks away. We have to know both pieces by then.”
    Ben and Logan walked out of the music room and into the crowded, noisy corridor.
    “Are you going to try out for a solo?” Logan asked.
    “No way. I’m not good enough,” Ben answered. “And you know she’ll pick Adam Kinner and Tina Termini anyway. They can really play.” He swung his saxophone case around to avoid a collision with an oncoming student. “I just like being part of the band.”
    “Yeah, it’s cool,” Logan agreed. “Like that last song, when everyone was playing together.” He started to tap out the rhythm of “Take the A Train” against his geometry book.
    “Hey, have you seen Hud at all?” Ben asked as they walked.
    “I think I saw him come out of the assistant principal’s office on Monday,” Logan said.
    “Really?”
    “Yeah. It looked like he was with his dad. They were shaking hands with Mr. Clarke outside his office.”
    “Remember, Hud said his dad wanted him to transfer for hoops?” Ben said, his voice filling with excitement.
    “Yeah, but I haven’t seen him around yet,” Logan said.
    “I wonder if he signed up for the basketball tryouts,” Ben said. “Let’s stop by the gym and check the bulletin board before math.”
    The boys threaded their way through the halls. Ben kept shifting his saxophone from side to side to make sure he didn’t clunk anyone with the case. Soon they stood outside the office of Mr. George, the school’s gym teacher and freshman basketball coach. Two large sheets of paper were tacked to the bulletin board. Ben and Logan read the notice announcing the team tryouts.
    RHS FRESHMAN BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM TRYOUTS
    • Tryouts for the freshman boys basketball team will be conducted Tues., Nov. 15th–Fri., Nov. 18th from 3-5 p.m.
    • Open to any freshman boy with at least a 2.0 grade point average.
    • The 14-game season begins Dec. 6th.
    • At least 12 players will be selected.
    • Sign up on the sheet next to this announcement—please print neatly!
    • Students who do not sign up before 3 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 15th will not be allowed to try out.
    Stop by my office if you have any questions.
    Hope to see you at the tryouts!
    HEAD COACH: Mr. George
    ASSISTANT COACHES: Mr. Hukill
    Mr. McCracken
    Then they scanned the list of kids who had signed up.
    “What’s Hud’s real name?” Logan asked.
    “Don’t know,” Ben said, his eyes still moving down the second sheet.
    “There’s Andrew, Jordan, and Alan,” Logan said.
    “We’ve got our forwards.” Ben smiled. “And there’s Levon. He’s going to pass out in shock when he sees Hud play.”
    “You mean,
if
he sees Hud play,” Logan said. “I don’t see him on the list.”
    Ben pressed closer to the bulletin board.

    “There he is!” Ben said. “Antonio