Strange Encounters of the Odd Kind

Today I learned a very important lesson: Always  put the cover on your saxophone mouthpiece when you're not using it.

Now, most people say that the cover helps protect the reed. I agree, but I would also add that it keeps people from putting your reed into their mouths.

Here's an explanation: 

My school's jazz band played at a local high school as a promotional stint for the music program, and during one of the breaks, I was outside with my saxophone, trying to stay out of the way while everyone moved chairs and music stands.

A boy in a red shirt ran over to me, and I thought, "Okay, cool, maybe he has questions about the school, my saxophone, or why the sky is blue."

He actually did have an interest in my sax - he grabbed it, put the mouthpiece in his mouth, then handed the sax back to me before doing a weird shuffle dance and fleeing.

This picture summed up my reaction: 

To put it in layman's terms, imagine that you're carrying your toothbrush around. Then a stranger walks up and uses it to brush his or her teeth before handing it back and running away.

Disgusting, right? It makes you want to throw away the toothbrush. Or at least scald it thoroughly with boiling hot water.

I managed to run the reed and mouthpiece through hot soap and water before playing again.

Ironically, he'll probably regret using my mouthpiece. 

I have the stomach flu.

*Edit* After I finished writing this blog, I checked my soaking mouthpiece and realized that I just submerged it in anti-cavity fluoride rinse, not mouthwash. So apparently now my saxophone is in no danger of needing fillings or having bad breath.