Ben and the Loud Trumpet

by Nancy I. Sanders

Chapter 1: AN INSTRUMENT FOR BEN
Ben wanted to join the school band. “I will talk with the band director,” he said.

Ben found the band room at school. “I want to play in the band,” Ben told the director.

The director led Ben to a small room. Strange black things filled the room. The black things were different shapes and sizes.

“These are the instruments,” said the director. “Which one do you want to play?”

Ben did not like the strange black instruments. He did not know which one to pick.

He pointed to a small black one in the corner. The director picked it up.

Ben wished he had not told the director he wanted to play in the band. He did not like the black instrument.

The director put the black thing on the table. He opened it. Inside was a shiny new trumpet! The black thing was just the case.

“Oh!” said Ben. “I get to play a trumpet! Now I am happy that I will join the band.”

Chapter 2: BEN PLAYS THE TRUMPET
That night Ben had a dream. He dreamed he was playing his shiny new trumpet. Then Ben woke up.

It was still dark out. He looked at the trumpet sitting on his desk.

“I will practice my trumpet,” he said. Ben picked up his trumpet and blew.

“Blah!” said the trumpet. Ben liked the new sound he could make.

“Blah! Blah!” he played. Ben blew harder. “BLAH!”

Ben made so much noise that he did not hear the knock on his door.

“Knock, knock,” went the door.

“BLAH! BLAH!” played Ben.

“Knock, knock, knock,” went the door.

“BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!” played Ben.

“KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!” went the door.

At last Ben heard the knock at his door. He opened the door.

“What are you doing?” asked his sister Sarah. Sarah looked very sleepy. She rubbed her eyes. Her hair was messy.

“I am playing my trumpet,” said Ben.

“At 2:00 in the morning?” Sarah asked. “The noise woke me up.”

Ben looked at his clock. It said 2:00. It was the middle of the night!

“I’m sorry,” Ben said. “I forgot what time it was.”

“Good night, Ben,” Sarah said.

“Good night, Sarah,” said Ben.

Sarah closed the door.

Ben put his trumpet in the black case. He climbed back into bed. He fell asleep and dreamed he was playing the trumpet again.

“BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!”

Chapter 3: PRACTICE TIME FOR BEN
Ben practiced his trumpet every day. Ben practiced in the morning after breakfast. He practiced in the evening before bedtime.

One morning Ben was practicing his trumpet.

The doorbell rang.

“Ben,” called his mother. “Will you answer the door?”

Ben opened the door. Outside stood his neighbor, Mr. Davies.

“Ben,” said Mr. Davies, “I work all night. I sleep in during the morning. Lately, I cannot sleep. The trumpet is too loud.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Davies,” Ben said. “I won’t practice in the morning anymore.”

“Thank you, Ben.” Mr. Davies smiled.

That night, Ben practiced his trumpet.

The doorbell rang.

Ben opened the door. Outside stood his other neighbor, Mrs. Kim. She held baby Erica. Erica was crying.

“Ben,” Mrs. Kim said, “right now is Erica’s bedtime.”

Erica cried louder.

“Erica cannot sleep when you practice. The trumpet is too loud.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Kim,” said Ben.

“Maybe you can practice some other time.” Mrs. Kim smiled and said goodbye.

Ben looked at his shiny new trumpet. He felt sad.

“Who rang the doorbell?” Dad asked.

Ben told him about the neighbors. “When can I practice?” Ben asked. “Everyone says the trumpet is too loud!”

“You can practice after school,” Dad said.

“But that is when I play with my friends!” cried Ben.

“I understand,” Dad said. “But it might be the best time not to bother anyone. You can try it tomorrow.”

Chapter 4: THE MUTE
Ben sat in the band room. The director listened to him play the trumpet.

“You play very well,” said the director. “I want you to play this song at our next concert.”

Ben felt happy.

“There is one problem,” said the director. “This song is soft. Your trumpet is loud. You need a mute so the song will sound soft.”

“What is a mute?” asked Ben.

“A mute is a special cone that you put in the front of the trumpet. It makes the trumpet sound very soft.”

“Can you give me a mute?” Ben asked.

“The school does not own a mute,” said the director. “But we will borrow one for the concert.”

After school, Ben told his mother about the mute. “With a mute,” he said, “I could practice anytime! The trumpet would sound soft.”

“A mute is a good idea,” agreed his mother.

Ben called the music store on the phone.

“The store sells mutes,” Ben told his mother. “But they cost a lot.”

“Your father and I will help buy a mute. We will pay half of the money. You can save your allowance to pay the rest.”

Ben went to his room. He opened his piggybank. He counted all his money. He did not have very much money.

Sarah walked into his room. “Mom said you will buy a mute,” she said.

“Yes,” Ben said. “But I do not have much money. How will I save enough money to buy a mute?”

Chapter 5: BEN FEELS LONELY
School was over. Ben practiced his trumpet in his room. He looked out the window. He saw his friends playing with Sarah.

Ben wished he had enough money to buy a mute. Then he could practice when he wanted. He could play with his friends again.

Ben stopped practicing. His lips hurt from blowing so hard. He walked over to the window. He stuck his lips on the window. The cool glass felt good on his tired lips. He watched his friends play with Sarah. Ben felt lonely.

Outside, Sarah looked up at Ben. She stopped playing. She said goodbye to her friends. She went in the house to Ben’s room.

“Why were you looking out the window?” she asked.

“I don’t want to practice any more,” Ben said. “I want to play with my friends.”

Sarah picked up a book. She said down on Ben’s bed. “I will read this book while you practice your trumpet,” she said. “Your trumpet is not too loud for me. I like it.”

Ben practiced his trumpet while Sarah read the book. He did not feel quite so lonely anymore.

Chapter 6: SARAH HAS AN IDEA
The next day, Sarah played outside with her friends. She could see Ben through his window. He stood inside his room practicing his trumpet.

Sarah got an idea.

“Listen, everybody,” Sarah said. “There will be a concert here today! The concert costs 50 cents.”

“A concert sounds like fun,” said Sarah’s friend, Jeff. “Let’s invite all the neighbors!”

Sarah wrote a sign: CONCERT AT 4:30 TODAY. 50 CENTS.

Sarah stood the sign in her yard. She put a basket beside it.

Sarah’s father came outside.

“What’s the sign for?” he asked.

“There will be a concert here at 4:30,” Sarah said.

“That sounds like fun,” said her father. “I will get your mother.”

Sarah’s friends started to return. They brought their mothers and fathers. They brought their brothers and sisters. They brought their friends and neighbors. Jeff even brought his dog, Lucy. Everyone dropped 50 cents in the basket and sat on the grass.

Mr. Davies opened his front door. “What does you sign say, Sarah?” he asked.

“There will be a concert here at 4:30.”

“I haven’t heart a concert for a long time,” said Mr. Davies. “Count me in!” He put 50 cents in the basket.

Mrs. Kim came into the yard. She carried baby Erica. “A concert would be good for Erica to hear,” she said. She put money in the basket and sat down with Erica on her lap.

Chapter 7: THE CONCERT
Sarah walked into the house. She knocked on Ben’s door. “Come outside,” she said. “There is a special concert.”

Ben stopped practicing. “What kind of a concert?” he asked.

“A trumpet concert,” said Sarah.

“Who will play the trumpet?” Ben asked.

“You can,” Sarah said. “Everybody would like to hear you.”

“But they say my trumpet is too loud,” Ben said.

“It will not be too loud now,” said Sarah. “Come and see.”

Ben followed Sarah outside. He saw everyone sitting on the grass.

“We are ready for your concert,” Mr. Davies said.

Baby Erica clapped her hands and said, “Cert! Cert!”

“See,” said Sarah. “Everyone wants to hear a concert.”

Ben smiled. He played three songs on his trumpet.

“Hurray!” shouted Jeff.

Baby Erica clapped and said, “More cert, cert!”

Ben played all the notes that he remembered. “That’s all I know how to play,” he said.

“A wonderful concert!” said Mr. Davies. “I’m glad I was awake to hear it.”

The neighbors clapped and cheered.

Everyone said goodbye.

“Thank you for the nice concert, Ben,” said Mrs. Kim. Erica waved.

Ben went into his room. Sarah followed him. She carried the basket.

Sarah emptied the basket on Ben’s bed. She counted the coins. “Look!” she said. “There is enough money to buy a mute!”

“Wonderful!” Ben cried. “The neighborhood concert was a super idea!”

Ben sat on the bed beside Sarah. They felt happy together.

Now Ben could play the trumpet AND play with his friends!