Ch11-Swing that Music

CHAPTER ELEVEN Swing that Music. As the streetcar rumbled down Canal Street, Jack looked over his shoulder. Dipper was right. African Americans were sitting in the back, while only white people were in the front. Jack hadn't even noticed it on their first streetcar ride. Jack's heart felt heavy. Why would anyone not want to sit next to someone just because they are a different color? he wondered. How could anyone

ever be mean to Dipper? Dipper, who is gentle and friendly and kind? Dipper, who hears music everywhere? Jack listened to the click-clack of the streetcar rolling down the tracks. The sound had a good beat. Jack tapped his hand against his knee, until the streetcar came to a stop. "Let's go," said Annie. Jack and Annie stood up. Canal Street was bright with lights. People were still selling things on the sidewalk. "What time is it, please?" Jack asked the conductor. "Five minutes after nine, boy," said the conductor. "Y'all better head for home."

"We are!" said Annie. Jack and Annie hopped off the streetcar and started to run. They ran to the bottom of Canal Street and crossed to the palm trees in the grove near the Mississippi River. In the dark, they found the rope ladder and scrambled up it into the tree house. Jack grabbed the Pennsylvania book that would take them home. "Wait!" said Annie, looking out the window. "Look!" A brightly lit Mississippi showboat was rolling up the river. A large paddle wheel behind the boat was churning the water. Music was coming from on board.

Annie grabbed Jack's arm. "Listen! The 'Heebie-Jeebies'!" she said. Jack listened. He could hear the trio singing: Little Mack, Happy, and Big Nose Sidney. But the

best sound of all was the bright sound of a horn sailing through the New Orleans night. "It's Dipper!" said Annie. "It's got to be!" "He caught the boat!" said Jack. "Just in time!" Jack and Annie listened to the joyful swinging sound of Dipper's music until the riverboat rolled out of sight. Jack heaved a happy sigh. Then he pointed at their Pennsylvania book. "I wish we could go home," he said. The wind began to blow. The tree house started to spin. It spun faster and faster. Then everything was still.

Absolutely still. Jack and Annie were wearing their own clothes again. Rain tapped gently against the roof of the tree house. A cool breeze blew through the window. "We have to get home before Mom and Dad wake up," said Annie. "Right," said Jack. He pulled A History of New Orleans Music out of his backpack and left it on the floor. Annie put the trumpet beside it. Then they headed down the rope ladder. They pulled up their