Bugle Boy Nick
The band would set on the front deck of the house over looking the lake, the lawn and beach would serve as the dance floor. While the band played the beach would be full of campers enjoying the music a little dancing, a few drinks and socializing with friends. On this particular weekend there was a large group from Wainwright, Vermillion and Red Deer. Norman, a camper from Wainwright, is a soft spoken gentleman you would hardly know he is around. You would find it hard to believe he would be a prankster. Well on Friday evening he pulls out this bugle. Now this is no ordinary bugle, first off its homemade and very primitive looking, although it had a fair sized bell and also a proper mouth piece, the most unusual part of this horn was the way the tubing wound around like a couple of coils and the horn ended up facing your face, it also had several holes on the tubing similar to a recorder or flute. Well, Norm passed this instrument around the fire explaining to everyone how difficult it was to play. Several people gave it a try, not a note came out. Norm passed it over to Marvin offering him some encouragement and telling him to blow really hard. Marvin puckered up and gave it his best shot. Suddenly a massive white cloud spewed directly into Marvin’s face, leaving his head and shoulders totally white. Of course the whole camp erupted in hysterical laughter at Marvin’s expense. After cleaning up Marvin got with Norm and found out the Bugle was loaded with flour, pretty harmless. Marvin vowed he would return the favour to another unsuspecting soul. On Saturday evening, after the band had finished playing, everyone was invited up the fire where the Wainwright group had circled their wagons. Everyone seemed to arrive at different times with Nick arriving last. The bugle had been passed around and again no one was able to produce a note. Now understand that Nick is very accomplished musician, he hails from just outside London England and studied wood carving in Switzerland, he is used to working with fine instruments, well he got his hands on that Bugle he looked it over he rubbed the tubing he spoke to Norm about the sound it should produce, he talked about the unusual placement of the horn, he then said he could play anything. Norm again gave words of encouragement and told Nick he thought you had to blow hard. (I have to tell you I can hardly stop laughing writing this) I think Nick must have invoked some diaphragm breathing or something like that because the flour shot out of the horn with such velocity it was like a stream it must have pelted him in the face; never the less he was covered in flour, and we were again hysterical with laughter. I am not sure if it was his pride that was hurt or the English attitude was showing itself, anyway he left us and headed back to the house, we thought he was just going to clean up, we didn’t see him again that night. Nick was definitely not a good sport; I think we all felt bad about him not coming back until someone would mention the flour and the laughter would start again. |
