The Pact

The night before all completed compositions were due, for Mr. Lewis' final evaluation, all six composition students gathered on the second floor of the boy's dormitory. A majority of the students were in a state of panic, distressed by the amount of work that was still necessary to complete their compositions, prior to Mr. Lewis' final lecture. All of the composition students', excluding myself, compositions were extravagant consisting of several movements, hence the reasoning for their inability to complete them on time. My piano duo was a single movement, which I had completed earlier that week. Desperate to finish their compositions all six students made a pact that not one of us would sleep until all six compositions were completed. We agreed that we would assist each other, throughout the night as needed. 

We all sat around a circular table, in silence, as each student appeared to be more uneasily absorbed then the next by the horrifying reality of tomorrow's deadline. Since I had already finished my composition, sitting around a table filled with silent individuals was not exactly how I pictured spending one of the last evenings while at music camp. I broke the silence inquiring how each of the students worked on their pieces without the company of a piano. They all, one by one, admitted to having perfect pitch. I was amazed, then, a bit stumped as to why I did not possess such an ability. I explained, to a half interested audience, that I did not have such a gift and that the presence of a piano was always necessary while I was composing. Delving deeper into my first inquiry, with a string of questions, I hoped to validate their claims. Still not convinced by their responses, I challenged one of the students to confirm such an ability. I led him to my dormitory room, literally feet from the circular table where we had all gathered, and sat down at the Clavinova. After instructing him to face the opposite direction, I then proceeded to hit random notes on the keyboard. He was able to correctly identify the notes within seconds. I was initially amazed, however, feelings of inadequacy quickly began to surface. 

My breaking the silence led to a chain of distractions throughout the night. And as the evening progressed, we all surrendered to the reality that none of us would be going to sleep. The first sign of daylight announced the limited amount of time that remained before we were to report to lecture. As eight o'clock drew near all students gathered their scores and once again made a pact that everyone was to show up for lecture, agreeing that we could all sleep afterwards. 

After the final student left, I climbed into bed reasoning, with myself, that I would rest for 15 minutes... Hours later I was awoken by the sound of knocking on my dormitory door. Yes, I was that I guy, I had broken the pact, sleeping through lecture into the late afternoon.