A Painful Cut

Once upon a time two men from a successful local business group came to NRHS to offer financial assistance to Buzz the choir teacher, and Woody the band teacher.  They wanted to know what Woody and Buzz would do with the money.  "Shoot for the moon!" they said.   Proposals were written.  Meetings were attended.  Things looked very promising.  But in the end, Buzz was funded, and Woody wasn't.
Woody is very sad.  It's not that Woody feels as if he deserves the money.  Woody feels like he had an opportunity to do something amazing for his students, and failed to give a clear vision of what he would do.  Woody doesn't know how to write proposals.  Woody doesn't know how to talk to businessmen - all bottom lines, short term goals, long term goals and timetables.  These are things that Buzz is much better at doing, and Woody can't shake the feeling that had he consulted people who were better at that kind of thing, things may have been different.
Woody is genuinely happy for Buzz, and Buzz is sympathetic towards Woody - to the point of suggesting to redirect existing funding towards Woody so that Woody can acquire *some* of the things he was hoping for.  It was very generous, and Woody appreciates the gesture, as well as the concern.
It's not just the lost opportunity.  It's not just the hit to the ego.  Woody is trying to face down the nagging notion that the biggest obstacle holding back the NRHS Instrumental Music Dept. Is Woody.

Woody is tired now and wants to take a nap.