Chapter 1
My name is Monica Kites. I am in grade 5 and I am a member of the Musical Wizards Band. 2 other girls and 2 other boys are also members of the band. 1 of the girls is my best friend, Ally Fang, who is also in grade 5. 1 of the boys is her grade 2 brother, Allan Fang. The other boy is Allan’s grade 2 friend, Jason Judy. His grade 5 sister, Janisa Judy, is our friend and is also in the Musical Wizards Band. We love working together as special agents.
For some reason, Ally and I love doing the same thing, so we both play the flute. We are beginners since we just started playing it last year. If you ask me, intermediates are when you played your instrument for at least 5 years, and advanced are when you are still playing it in high school. Anyways, Janisa wanted to play the flute too, but since she tried and she thought it was too hard, she plays the clarinet. Allan plays the trombone.
Last but not least (that’s what Allan says), Jason plays the trumpet. I think trumpets are too hard to play. There is this boy in our class who plays the trumpet and once I saw him playing it and his face was so red. But that’s another story…
Every Tuesdays and Thursdays at recess we would go to the gym for extra practise. Since there was a concert coming up, we went to practise on Mondays too, now. One beautiful, hot, spring day, we were stuck in our classrooms with the fan turned on and our computer code textbook opened on our desk. Computer class was our favourite class of the day, but it was so hot today that even computer class could not cool us down. There was a lot of groaning, sweating and panting that day.
“ATLUP is never matched up with 12984. Can anybody tell me why?” our teacher, Master Tann asked. Of course you don’t, because it is so complicated. Even if you know computer language, you won’t know, because it’s a different type. Ally and I raised our hands lazily at the very same time. Master Tann called on me. I stood up and said, “ATLUP is never matched up with 12984 because ATLUP is a basic word used in computer language. 12984 is not a basic word used in computer language.” I sat down. “Very good. But who can tell us what 12984 is?”
Ally and I raised our hands at the very same time again. This time she called on Ally. Ally stood up. “12984 is not a basic word used in computer language. 12984 is a number used in matching word texts. Unlike numbers like 23672, 12984 is in complex text uses in order to read in very secret cases.” Ally sat down. “Excellent!” Master Tann said.
Ally and I grinned at each other. Then Master Tann showed a slide show on the overhead. She read us the important information in the slide show and told us to listen carefully, but she won’t tell us why. After the slide show, she handed out a short test on the slide show. So that was why! I pressed the button on my lead pencil twice and flipped my test over. I read the first question: “Why is ATLUP never matched with 12984?” It was the question I answered! I scanned my brain for the exact words I said and pretty soon, I had scribbled down the answer.
10 minutes later, I finished the test and I put my pencil down and flipped my test over. I looked over at Ally – she was already reading a book! I guessed she was a split second faster than me, because she was still squirming around in her seat to get a comfortable pose. I giggled silently and took out my book, In and Over. I was on page 36 when the bell rang and it was time for recess.
“Monee!” It was Ally. Pretty soon, Janisa, Jason, Ally and Allan were crowding around my desk. But I had trouble putting my book in my desk. I looked inside. Eww! My sharpener broke and all I could see in my desk were little pencil bits. Ally and Janisa helped me clean it while Allan and Jason were on their way to the gym.
After 5 minutes, we finally finished cleaning my desk, and it was as clean as new. I grabbed my flute and together we walked down the hall, down the stairs, then down the hall again, past the atrium and finally opened the doors to the gym. There were chairs lined up on the stage, and we grabbed the last 3 seats next to Allan and Jason. They were already playing their first piece. Janisa went to explain our lateness while we pushed the soft cloth on our cleaning rod through each piece: the mouth piece, the foot joint, and the middle joint. Then we assembled our flute just as Janisa came back.
“Ok! Now we can start. All 10 of us here are going to receive a form to be able to participate in the concert next, next week. Right now I need the Musical Wizards Band to stay here and practise Melody 2. The other 5 of you, the Music Delight Band, bring your chairs to the backstage to practise Melody 3. Then we will switch.”
We were so glad that we got to practise on the stage first! “Monee! Come sit here!” Ally patted the seat of the chair beside her. We had to sit beside the other people that played the same instrument as you. Once we were all ready, the practising started. We were going to try our best and play the best pieces of music ever in the one and only – Musical Wizards Band.
