 The Five O'Clock Band, words by Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews, with Bill Taylor, pictures by Brian Collier, narrated by Dionne Graham. Everyone's hometown is special. It's the place that helps you grow into the person you'll become. For one little boy called Shorty, his hometown roots were very important. He was from New Orleans, and in this city, there are sounds and tastes and celebrations unlike any other place in the world. Many even call it magical. The city showed Shorty how to see the world, and its people helped him become the person he was destined to be. Shorty liked to play music. In fact, he was in a band. They called themselves the Five O'Clock Band because that was the time they started playing every afternoon after school and homework were finished. The band lived in a lively neighborhood called Treme. The Five O'Clock Band would parade through the streets of Treme, down to Jackson Square in the center of town, and back around, just like all the older musicians did. They played for the people for rounds of applause, and sometimes they even got tips. But one day, Shorty was practicing his trombone and got so lost in his own music that he forgot to meet the Five O'Clock Band at their regular time. Shorty ran to Jackson Square, trombone in hand. But his bandmates had already left. He had missed their performance and parade, and he knew he had let them down. One day, I want to be the band leader. But how can that happen if I can't even get to the show on time? Shorty thought. Shorty walked through the neighborhood, around the large square in the French Quarter where musicians gathered. He smelled delicious gumbo and jambalaya in the air, and heard the sounds of other musicians echoing through the square. All complete. Ready to continue?