The group chat buzzed just after four—
“Beach hang, tonight? Let’s hit the shore!”
Waves, music, snacks, the whole crew there.
And me? I froze mid-stair.

I’d been waiting for that text all day.
I mean, who’d want to miss the bay?
The sun was out, the vibes were right—
but something tugged beneath the hype.

Because Friday night, the band performs.
It’s not just school—it’s way more.
And I’ve got solos, tricky ones,
that still trip me when I run them once.

My trumpet sat across the bed,
like it knew what I should do instead.
I scrolled the chat, they’re bringing games.
Someone dropped fire meme nicknames.

They’d laugh if I said, “I need to stay
and practice notes I can’t yet play.”
But deep inside, I sort of knew—
if I skip tonight, I’ll follow through.

Then I remembered something Ms. Lane said
after our last rehearsal ended:
“You’re good,” she told me. “Really good.
But greatness means doing what others won’t.”

She texted me a quote last week:
“Hard work beats talent when talent’s weak.”
I didn’t answer then—but now
her words hit different, here and now.

I looked again. Then dropped the phone.
I picked the trumpet up alone.
The window cracked, the evening breeze—
but all I heard were notes and me.

I texted back: “I can’t tonight.
Got band stuff—hope it goes all right.”
And even though I missed the crew,
I hit the runs I couldn’t do.

Not every win comes with a cheer.
But I felt clear, for once, right here.
And in my gut, I knew for sure—
I’m showing up. I’m marked for more.

_{“Marked for More” by Nina D. Smith. Published by Bright Bunny Books © 2025. Retelling of “Marked for a Mast” from Fireside Stories for Girls in Their Teens by Margaret W. Eggleston, originally published in 1921.}

---

“Marked for More” is appropriate for middle school students because it reflects the kinds of choices they face—balancing fun with responsibility—and uses relatable language, setting, and emotions they can understand and connect with.