Polysymphonic Ringtones

Dave was just starting on his salad when he heard it begin. The brass section rounding the corner nearest his alfresco table was a little overbearing until it was supported by the dulcet string section, approaching from the other end of the street. There was mixed reaction from the other diners, from mild irritation, to bemusement, to the vacant expression of enjoyment spreading across the face of Dave's dining partner.

The orchestra converged at the restaurant as they reached the end of their melody, looking expectantly at Dave. As they paused, he realised that they weren't looking at him, but at his colleage, Hugh, who started frantically patting his pockets as they started up again.

The band wound down as Hugh extracted his telephone from some inner recess of his coat, looking embarassed and mumbling apologies to the other diners. Having a live orchestra for a ringtone had its drawbacks.