Brilliant … But Bouncy

He Should Definitely Be in Chamber.

So I went to “enroll” Dylan at our local public high school.

Since I was going to be at the school anyway, I scheduled an audition for Dylan to sing and play guitar for the choral director. Dylan hoped he would get into Guitar 2 because he was not enamored with his new, low, puberty-ridden voice.

Dylan’s been singing like an angel almost since he was born, so this made me sad. But guitars are good, too.

Dylan was tuning his guitar in the office when the choral director appeared. We made our introductions and he took Dylan down the long hallway to the music room.

Then I started filling out piles of enrollment paperwork.

Half an hour later, Dylan and the choral director returned. They were like old buddies by then, talking to each other more than me. They’d already developed a rapport.

“So how did he do?” I finally blurted.

“Dylan is just a delight,” said the choral director. He put his hand on Dylan’s shoulder. “I just love his attitude! And his voice – that’s a very powerful instrument you have there.” He looked straight at Dylan’s throat. Then he turned to me. “I would definitely encourage some more voice lessons. He’s got a strong voice, and a lot of potential!”

I always thought “potential” was pejorative. But in this case, I would be wrong.

“We can do that,” I nodded. “And we know he can’t be in Chamber Choir this year,” I said, “because he’s not in 10th grade….”

“Oh, I would definitely want him in my Chamber Choir,” said the director without hesitation. “With his skill level and musical talent, he should most definitely be in Chamber.”

Dylan didn’t even blink. He had just surpassed a full year of general chorus and positioned himself inside an elite group of upperclassmen in Chamber Choir. As a freshman.

I didn’t even know it was possible to jump a year ahead. “So we should just request that class when we register?” I stammered.

“Yes, uh-huh,” the director said. “I’d like to see him in choir for all four years.”

I was flabbergasted. Dylan never flinched. He stood there, confident and calm, leaning on his guitar case.

“And what about Guitar 2?” I asked. “Did he …”

“Oh, he won’t have time to take both classes,” the choral director said.

“That’s true,” I said, remembering all the requirements we had to cram into his four years. But we were going to make room for Chamber Choir. This kind of honor doesn’t happen every day.

“Thank you,” I said. Dylan just continued to lean.

“Thank you,” said the choral director. “It was really such a pleasure meeting you, Dylan,” he said, shaking Dylan’s hand again.

“You, too,” Dylan said, smiling his stunningly gorgeous-but-humble smile.

The choral director went back to his work, and I turned back to the process of enrollment.

The woman in charge of enrollment said, “You’re my first ‘future enrollment,’ and I’m not sure how to process this. But I will make some phone calls, and hopefully in the next couple of weeks, I’ll figure out how to get this done.”

“And what else do you need me to do?” I asked.

“Just bring in his transcript at the end of the year,” she said, completely contradicting the advice she’d given me via phone only a few days earlier.

“Okay,” I said, still glowing from Dylan’s choral accomplishment. There didn’t seem to be much I could do to encourage the enrollment person to actually complete Dylan’s enrollment.

Welcome back to public school, I thought.