Barron - A Bards Folktale: Roaming Cadenza

Aramis Barron

To Mrs. Madeline Thompson, and every teacher whose lessons do not end at the classroom.

Remember the glory days? Back when you used to get all nervous when that special someone came rollin around? Or when all eyes were on you cause you were just that awesome? Hell, remember the first time you ever fell in love? Just curious.

Anyway, hey, hows it going? Names G. Thats what the people I like call me, anyway. Figure if youre listening to me, must mean youve got some interest in a tale or two, huh? Or at least found yourself a little lost along the way. But its all good; I think I can whip up a pretty good story for ya, but Im telling you right now I aint makin any promises on a happy ending. This is a pretty long story, so I dont think Ill be able to get through all of it in one go. Lets call this the first part.

Anyway, this is a story that always comes to mind for me. Its the one about a few friends of mine who went on a road trip a while back, right after graduation. Seemed simple enough for sure. They were just out messing around trying to have some fun, but damn those dudes didnt have the slightest clue of the mess theyd be getting themselves into. Other than the usual sex, drugs, and rock & roll, anyway.

Well, dont let me ruin it for you. Lets get started.

They always say, Today is the beginning of the rest of your life, but I guess that doesnt really say much for everything Ive done up until now, does it?
The Diary of Alma Grey

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor. Full of trees, as the name might suggest. A fine mix of city and nature, yet not wholly one or the other. The sun shone bright and cheery on the early June day, with its sky an ever-expanding blue. Only a few clouds drifted through the troposphere. Birds sang and chirped their choruses throughout the schoolyard, without much care or attention. The place itself was an average sort of school, made of red brick and a severe lack of parking for its students, though they always somehow managed to make room.

The arrival of the first buses indicated seven twenty in the morning, and only some of the students had started to arrive. Among them were Charisma Roberts and Alma Grey, the latter cruising elegantly in the passenger side of her best friends ride. It was early for them to be there, but Charisma, more commonly referred to as Cris, was excited. They had already graduated, but many of the seniors still had work to finish up before their transcripts were complete. Cris had come to catch up and say goodbye to her friends.

She parked her car and waited for their friends to arrive as she looked over to Alma. Her best friend and partner in crime, Alma was only slightly shorter than Cris, but more bubbly with fuller curves and less inhibition. Alma was the older of the two, having just passed her eighteenth birthday. Her mid-length disarray of sun-warmed hair contrasted her naturally tanned skina testament to her fiery nature. Her luminous hazel eyes found no trouble in lighting up an entire room. Breaking out of her trance, Cris returned Almas smile as they got out of the car.

Some of their friends walked by, and the two casually worked their way into the group. Unfortunately, there werent a whole lot of places to walk to, and they would hardly want to be seen wandering around school this early in the day. They loitered about idly, but after a short while, headed into the building to find more entertaining things to do. Eventually the first bell of the day rang.

It was at about this same time that Konrad Lehane, stuck in traffic and enjoying the ska punk ballads of We Are the Union, was finally en route to school. Dirty blond hair with jaded green eyes, Kodys boyish figure may have done him justice for a man only seventeen years of age. He wore his medium build and average height like a snuggly fit suit.

He rested his head against the window and sighed, looking at the long stream of cars lined up on the bridge. He knew he wouldnt make it to his first class on time, but he was proud he could at least say hed tried.

Even so, it made little difference since he still didnt have much hope of arriving before the end of his first class. The perfect excuse hed been saving up all semester would go to waste if he didnt hurry. Whether it would be his fault, or a result of the parking situation, was another story. His train of thought moved along with the realization theres always second hour.

Reaching the school, he drove through the parking lot searching in vain for an open spot. His rusty station wagon eventually ended up down the road in a nearby townhouse community. He dragged his feet on his way back to school, still in no particular hurry.

With no real desire to get to class, He spent a good fifteen minutes enjoying the warm summer sun baking his skin as he strolled along. A well of regret rose in his stomach, knowing hed soon be rid of a lovely morning in exchange for a bland, only mildly entertaining classroom. The injustices of the educational system were too great, denying children the simple beauty and freedoms of nature and youth so soon after spring blossomed. He considered whether his opinion might be swayed by his hatred for sitting around in class when he could be outside with a notebook.

He arrived at the school building and trudged into his second hour only a few minutes late. Criss expression caught his gaze. He did his best to avoid it. Her amber eyes called out to him, emitting a charismatic warmth, indicating for him to join her. Her smile drew him in. She brushed mahogany tresses aside as she waited for him, revealing light freckles decorating her lean, athletic frame. Though it was impossible to tell if she was aware of it, she always reminded him of textbook jailbait.

Kody knew if he took a seat next to her a scolding would be in order. With no other seat open, however, he began the march of shame. The cold stare of his classmates penetrated from all sides as their teacher stopped the lesson, watching him pretend he was invisible as he slinked over to his seat. He saw Mrs. T. pick up the phone on her desk, and all the students knew what was coming next.

Hold the phone, Kody! Before we continue with the lesson, please share with us what delightful story you have for today. The teachers voice caught him off guard.

My mom didnt want me going to school today. I know, I knowI couldnt believe it either. I tried to convince her I needed to go, but it was no use. She was like, You need to quit being so mature and responsible all the time! So I ended up having to wait until she left the house so I could sneak out. If you could do me a huge favor, Mrs. T., please dont tell her I snuck out to go to school today, on skip day of all days. Shed be very disappointed with me, he replied, smug and pleased hed got a chance to use his excuse after all.

His teacher grinned.

I wont say anything about it, Kody. Now if you could take a seat and get out your textbook, were on page 273, she finished.

Kody relaxed in his seat and pulled out some books to appease his teacher.

Busted, Cris whispered, smirking.

Hey, you know how it works. Mr. Sunshine says good morning, I say good night, he quietly replied.

Maybe if someone would actually wake up when his alarm went off, it wouldnt be such a problem, she chided him. Todays the big day, and you still get up late? What, were you up all night messing around or something? You shouldve had your stuff packed days ago!

Im not a girl, Cris; I dont have lots of bags of useless crap. I just didnt feel like getting up. I like my sleep, really.

I didnt think guys needed beauty rest, she countered. Did you at least call Glenn?