Page 30 of Echoes of a Muted Song

(Johnny)

“All right, what’s the theme for tonight?” I asked as I flopped down beside Rebel on one of the two couches lining each side of our tour bus.

For the first time since Rocktoberfest, it was just me, my band brothers, and a mound of snacks ranging from chicken wings to Ho-Hos.

“Cars,” Dash replied.

“Fast cars, and not the cartoon type this time,” Rebel declared as he slung an arm across my shoulders as we settled in.

“Who get’s first pick tonight?” Dash asked.

“I do,” Ozzy declared from the kitchenette where he was filling the last of the platters. “Cue upGone in 60 Seconds.”

“The original or the remake?” Dash asked.

“There’s a remake? Why? It’s not even that old,” I grumbled, confused and frustrated with Hollywood’s inability to be original while turning to look at Ozzy, who just rolled his eyesand let out a long-suffering sigh.

“The Nicolas Cage one is the remake, Johnny,” Ozzy groaned. “Sort of, anyway, it’s more like one of those loose interpretation things that didn’t even bother to try to be original with the name.”

“So, my question still stands,” Dash remarked. “Which version am I looking for?”

“The one with the best car chase,” Rebel declared.

“Modern one for the win,” Dash said, grinning.

“Original has a forty-minute car chase,” Ozzy offered as he set the platter on the table and dropped on the cushion beside Dash.

“Wait, that’s what, half a movie?” Dash said, raising an eyebrow. “That’s bullshit. No one is gonna waste half a film on just a chase.”

“Pull it up and let’s see.”

“This had better not be boring or your name is going back in the book,” Rebel grumbled.

“Why do you even bother taking him out of there?” I asked.

“Because every now and then he earns it,” Rebel said.

“And then earns his way right back in again, too,” Dash said, pulling the little notebook from between the cushion and the arm of the couch and waving it at them.

“One of these days you are going to stuff that thing in there and the couch gremlins will refuse to give it back.”

“Hasn’t happened yet,” Dash remarked, andmade a big show of lightly penciling Ozzy’s name onto a page already riddled with eraser marks.

“Doesn’t mean it won’t,” Rebel and I declared before dissolving into a fit of laughter, sprawling against each other in the process.

“Hey, we haven’t even hit play yet,” Ozzy complained. “How’s my name already back in the notebook?”

“Precedence.”

“Just give it a chance.”

“Fine, but your name stays until it’s over,” Dash replied before tucking it back in its spot.

From the opening scene, I could tell that it was going to be one of those zone out movies that I was probably not gonna get through without falling asleep. Those old school muscle cars were sure beautiful, though. As I leaned against Rebel’s arm and the arm of the couch, my eyes sought the coffee table to be certain that I’d brought my notebook and sketchbook out and enough pens and pencils that I wouldn’t have to get up and go look for one before the end of the night.

Good. I was all set.

Movie marathons were one of the band’s favorite ways of passing time on a long stretch of highway, especially on a dark, rainy stretch that meant the day would drag on longer. We’d pulled the shades all the way down and now Ozzy hit the switch for the lights while Dash hit play on the movie.

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