Page 9 of Lost Lyrics

She lowered her red star-shaped glasses over her eyes, then jammed her hand onto her hips, struck a pose, and pointed her thumb toward me. “My daddy’s name is Cole. He’s a drummer.” My daughter was every bit the show pony. She’d being hanging around Flint way too much. “His band is The Fhintlocks. He plays moosic really loud with Fhint, Slip and Lewis. And...um...he has a really big kit too.”

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh.Oh...my kit is big alright!But I had to stay age appropriate. Ava and Riley pursed their lips, clearly trying not to laugh. Yeah, their minds were as dirty as mine.

“He’s teaching me to play.” Charlotte’s bright green eyes glittered bright. “I’m getting good, aren’t I, Daddy?”

“Yeah. You’re awesome.” I ruffled her hair, and she giggled.

“Thank you, Charlotte,” Dawn said as Charlotte plonked down onto her chair. “Mr. Tanner, would you like to tell the children how you became a drummer and what you do on a daily basis?”

“Sure.” I wriggled on my seat and wiped my clammy palms on my jeans. “I started playing the drums when I was about your age and went to lessons twice a week for years. When I was nine, I formed a band with my friends who lived on the same street as I did. We practiced just about every day, worked very hard, and started playing gigs when we were in high school. We were signed to a record label just after we graduated.” Blank faces loomed before me.Fuck, I’m boring them. Tough crowd, and not my usual demographic.

“We’ve released three albums and had some hit songs. You might have heard them on TikTok or YouTube or streamed them.” I got nothing other than open mouths and blank gazes, like I was speaking a foreign language.Shit.I scratched my cheek. What else could I say to four-year-olds?Think. Think. Think.“My band and I went on a huge tour last year and played lots of shows around the world. Right now we’re on a break, taking a long vacation, but when I’m working, I spend every day with my band, writing and creating music. We practice and play for hours, often till very late at night. We also do a lot of promotional work which involves photoshoots, being on TV and the radio, meeting fans at events, and performing. It’s great fun but a lot of hard work.”

Still nothing.

Fuck.

Great work, dick. Really connecting with these kids. Not!

Dawn stepped forward and clasped her hands together. “That sounds very interesting and exciting.” She smiled sweetly at the kids. “Who has some questions for Mr. Tanner?”

“Me?” A boy with flaming red hair and a face of super-sized freckles shot up his hand.

Dawn pointed at him. “Yes, Floyd?”

“How many songs can you play?”

“Um...”Geez.I rubbed my forehead.How the fuck would I know?“Hundreds, if not thousands. I’ve never counted them before.”

A girl with black ringlet pigtails shot up her hand. “Do you know Billie Eilish?”

“Um...I met her at an awards show once. She’s really nice. But no.”

“What about Taylor Swift?” she asked again.

“Nope. I’ve gone to events she’s been at, but I’ve never met her.”

The girl’s shoulders deflated like I’d destroyed her dreams. I knew a lot of fucking people, but more bands than solo artists.

A boy with a big round face and glasses rose to his knees and folded his arms. He pouted and drew his brow down over his eyes. Oh, a serious question was coming. “Do you get in trouble for playing too loud?”

I chuckled and wriggled on the chair to keep the blood circulating in my ass. “When I was a kid, yes. All the time. My mom didn’t like the drums, so I had to play them in the garage. But now I live in my own house, I can play as loud as I fu...freaking want and for as long as I want.”

A girl in the front row rubbed her snotty nose, then wiped her hand on her T-shirt. Yep, I would’ve done that at her age too. But ew...gross.“How fast can you play?”

“Hmmm.” I grabbed the drumsticks out of my back pocket. I shuffled off the chair and sat cross-legged on the floor. I tapped my sticks on the linoleum at pace.Tap. Patter. Patter. Tap.Patter. Patter,faster and faster. My hands were nothing but a blur. “This fast.”

“Wwwwow!” The kids’ eyes widened. The ones at the back of the group crawled closer, peering over the heads and shoulders of the other children and getting a closer look.

I didn’t stop as I asked the kids, “Do you know our song ‘Fast?’”

I sang low and steady. I could picture Flint wincing and Lewis and Slip laughing at my average ability to hold a tune, but I gave it a crack.

How did we fall so fast?

Thought this wasn’t supposed to last

I never thought I could feel this way,

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