The lunch bell had just rung at Merriam High School. Jason was hurrying over to the music building where he knew that Daniel and the other members of his band had just finished their jazz band class. Laura had a committee meeting today at lunch, so Jason wanted to spend the time with his other friends. By the time he arrived, his friends were already gone, except for Nick Feraducci.
“Hey, Nick! How’s it going?” Jason exclaimed in greeting.
Nick smiled his big smile back when he saw who was calling his name. “Jason! What brings you over here today?”
“Laura has a prom committee meeting at lunch today, so I thought I would come over here and see if there was anyone to hang out with at lunch.”
“Well I’m free today. Let’s do lunch!” Nick replied enthusiastically.
The two friends hurried over to the cafeteria and negotiated their way through the lunch line. When they had purchased their food, they found some free space at a table and sat down. After they had eaten some of their food, they got caught up on each other’s activities.
“Where is everyone else?” Jason asked. Usually several of the Second Chance All Star band members would be gathered together with their girlfriends at lunchtime.
“Daniel and Diana wanted to put in some extra study time together for a social studies test, Eric went to a swim team meeting and then will see Rebecca, and Tim and Teresa usually are off somewhere by themselves,” Nick explained.
“And where are the ladies of the Nick Feraducci fan club today?” Jason followed up.
“I guess they are not meeting today,” Nick said with a little shrug of his shoulders. “So I am all alone and am glad you stopped by, Jason.”
“Me too,” Jason responded. “We never have a lot of time to just hang out and socialize, even though we live in the same neighborhood.”
“Spring is always a busy time at school, and this year we also have to prepare for the concert tour in June. I am actually grateful for some time alone, so I can practice and concentrate on my music. But even that might be put on hold because of Mom’s business trip coming up.”
“What do you mean?” Jason asked.
“Mom just got named to the executive board of the California Realtor’s Association. So she will be gone for a couple of days next week. I’m not sure what she plans to do about me. Maybe she will take me along, although I don’t want to miss school and of course any band rehearsals.”
“Why don’t you come and stay at my house,” Jason offered. “You know we have that guest room where you stayed before. I can promise you no predators will be after you this time!”
“What a great idea!” Nick replied with a smile. “But I don’t want to impose on you or your parents.”
“Are you kidding?” Jason said, slightly raising his voice. “Mom dotes on you, and both Mom and Dad really like your music. Just have your mom call mine, and set everything up. I’ll mention the possibility to her tonight. But I’m sure it will be okay.”
“The best part is that we get some of that hang together time like when we first met,” Nick said enthusiastically. “And not having to worry about my personal safety makes it even better. You know there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t remember what you did for me, Jason. I still shudder inside when I think how close to death I came in that underground cave.”
“Somehow our meeting and becoming friends was meant to be, Nick, in spite of the heavy handed way that we were introduced.”
“I still am embarrassed about that,” Nick said with a sheepish grin. “You and Daniel sure paid a price for Grandfather’s panini.”
“That’s all water under the bridge now,” Jason said reassuringly. “Both Daniel and I think of you as one of our best friends. Every time I hear you play the piano it reminds me how important it was to help you out in your time of need.”
The two friends went on to talk about school and band activities until the bell rang for their next class.
Caterina, Nick’s mother, was grateful for Jason’s offer to have Nick stay at their house while she was out of town. Quickly things were arranged with Edith Hunter, and a few days later, Nick was at the Hunter’s front door with an overnight bag.
Edith Hunter answered the door and gave Nick a hug in greeting. Soon he was situated in the guest room. At dinner Nick updated Bill and Edith Hunter about his current activities.
After Nick finished, Jason added, “And now Nick is constantly fighting off adoring young ladies who want to bask in his glory and talent!”
Nick blushed at Jason’s remark. “Well not exactly! But it is fun to go on dates and have someone besides the guys in the band to spend time with.”
“Look out, Nick,” Jason warned. “Soon one of those young ladies will set her sights on you and your whole life will change!”
“Yeah, like you and Laura,” Nick answered. “I don’t think I am ready for that kind of commitment yet.”
“Sometimes I’m not sure that I am, either!” Jason replied with a laugh.
After Edith Hunter served small chocolate sundaes for dessert, Jason and Nick went up to their rooms. They both had an hour or so of homework to complete. Then Nick came into Jason’s room to play some games.
They played for a half hour and then took a break. “This is great!” Nick said. “It’s been a long time since I just had time to play some video games. When I’m not dealing with school activities or schoolwork, I am involved with music and practicing the piano.”
“It’s really important that you do make time for fun things, Nick, and for things that allow your mind and body to relax and refresh. You have a promising future ahead of you. I know one day I’ll be telling my children and grandchildren that I knew Nicolo Feraducci before he became a star,” Jason predicted.
“As will I about you,” Nick responded. “With all of your leadership skills, incredible personal bravery, and the resources of your foundation, I think that you will make an even bigger impact on our generation.”
“Who knows what will happen for us in the future,” Jason said. “I do know that your mindset about things really affects your day to day life and happiness.”
“What do you mean?” Nick asked.
“What I mean is that your focus should be on living an unpretentious, normal life, interacting with family and real friends as much as possible. Someone of your talents is bound to run into posers and others who will try to exploit their relationship with you. Avoid those types of people like the plague! Never forget your roots and the people who got you where you are today.”
“You know that is one of the things that I like about you the best, Jason — how you take life so casually, even when it comes to life and death matters. I don’t know how you are able to do that, especially given all of the harrowing experiences that you have been through in your life.”
“I use that basic connection to justify everything I do, Nick. That’s why it was so important for us to meet and become friends. Our bond of friendship was what got me through what it took to rescue you. I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try. And somehow doing the right thing has always paid off for me. I guess I truly believe that good can conquer evil.”
“Amen to that, Jason. My friends and I are all better off because you not only believe that but also practice what you preach! I know it will be hard for me to get to that ‘normal’ space that you are the poster boy for. After my father was killed, when I was just five years old, everything that I was brought up with changed. Mom took me away from the Feraducci family and their influences as much as she could. We moved to San Matthias where I was raised in a virtual cocoon of piano lessons and an exclusive school for boys. My whole existence revolved around practicing the piano and giving recitals.
“Then the attacks started. I had no idea why I was being targeted. I was so lucky to have made friends with you and Daniel around that time. Your friendship was very important to me, and it ended up saving my life. There was very little ‘normal life’ for me during those months. Despite all of your efforts and those of the police, I still ended up being kidnapped and nearly tortured to death. God, that was a scary time. I thought I was dead meat, especially when I saw you had been captured, and I was strapped down to that metal table. Somehow you had the inner calm and strength to not only escape, but also get the upper hand and bring Angelo and Salvatore down. The way you acted about it, it was just another normal work day in the life of Jason Hunter.”
“Trust me, I was scared shitless strung up in that hellhole of a cave,” Jason asserted. “Luckily something inside me kept telling me to stay calm and wait for the right moment to act. When the time was right and I was able to attack Angelo with the pepper spray, I discovered that even I, kickback Jason, was capable of the most savage violence.”
“Well if anybody deserved violence done to them, it was those two predators!”
“Yeah, but I am glad I didn’t kill anyone in the process,” Jason replied. “Something like that stays with you for the rest of your life!”
“After that experience, I knew that my life needed to change,” Nick continued. “Moving into this neighborhood and being able to have a network of friends was a good start. Joining Daniel’s band was another very strong positive. Then you encouraged me to write the Requiem for the Lost Children to bring final closure to that whole incident. After that music was composed and performed, a lot of weight was finally lifted off of me. Just like the spirits of those murdered kids, I was at last free!”
“When I heard that music, Nick, I realized that somehow there had to be another hand involved in your rescue. As I was hearing you perform it, I truly began to understand the spiritual power of music to define peoples’ lives.”
“There definitely is some truth to that statement. I did feel some outside guidance as I was writing the music. You remember that I was in quite a single-minded state at the time.”
“Oh yeah, I do. Your mother was so concerned about you that she asked Daniel and me to check on you. Remember that day we came over?”
Nick shook his head and chuckled. “Mom was just being the overprotective mom that day! I tried to explain it to her when I first started work, but it was too emotional for me to really describe in much detail. I had to keep my focus on the music. Everything else about my life didn’t matter at that time.”
“I was so proud of you when you explained to Daniel and me what you were doing,” Jason said with a big smile. “It showed me that you had a lot of heart when you literally pushed aside almost everything else in your life to compose that music. And the result! You really did speak for those poor murdered kids! All during the performance I held onto Laura’s hand, stunned by the emotional impact that your music had on me and the rest of the audience. I’ll never forget that concert!”
“The power of music!” Nick affirmed. “I tried to explain that to Grandfather after everything went down. I told him that this was the direction I was pursuing, and that the old ways of doing family business would end with me. Surprisingly, he actually agreed with me that maybe that would be a good thing.”
“Somehow I can’t imagine your grandfather giving up his ways of taking care of business,” Jason said in reply.
“He probably won’t during his lifetime,” Nick concluded. “But I think he is proud of my musical accomplishments and that I was able to survive the attacks on me and the Feraducci family. Some of the blame for Sal and Angelo’s actions rests on Grandfather’s shoulders for the way he treated their mothers.”
“Soon you will get to see the impact of your music in a large concert venue. You must be excited about that!” Jason exclaimed.
“Yeah, definitely,” Nick answered. “At the same time I am nervous that the fate of the band may rest in the reactions and opinions of middle school girls!”
“Just smile your big smile and knock ‘em dead,” Jason said with a laugh. “They probably will care more about the way you look than the way you play!”
“You could be right, Jason, but I sure hope there is more substance to our future audience then just sex appeal and bubble gum lyrics!”
“In the long run, I would think that there have to be real substance for the band to survive. But in the meantime just enjoy yourself. This is a far cry from the recitals at Mr. Ponticelli’s studio!”