Page 345 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“Then on the other hand, only yesterday.

“A feeling you can’t make sense of…

“Until you do…”

I pause.

“Like right now.”

I gaze off, white-knuckling the mic.

“‘Cause you can’t see their face,

“Hear their voice,

“Feel their arms around you…

“The absence is why it feels like a lifetime’s gone by. But the pain hits fresh with the weight of yesterday.

“An eternity and a heartbeat.

“That’s the cruelty of missing someone.”

I breathe out,

trying to keep my emotions at bay.

Lift the mic back to my mouth.

“And before you start⁠—

“I’m allowed to get all deep and shit.

“I’m not crazy, I swear. I’m a writer.”

I laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

They laugh, too.

“But when he passed…” I glance toward Raymond. “This guy stepped in where Dad couldn’t.” I don’t give the room enough pause for applause and keep going, “But the lyrics? Nah. Those had to change. I wasn’t about to spend the rest of my Christmases singin’ about a guy who can’t take a hint.”

A few wet laughs scatter.

“So, Soundwave, thank you for helping me keep their love alive another year. Happy Holidays, everybody.”

Soundwave stands,

clapping loud, cheering.

And as uncomfortable as it was, I had to remind them. I had to make sure they’d never forget the man who pulled all these people together.

I pop the mic back into the stand,

and Raymond relaxes at the piano,

relieved I didn’t humiliate him.

Behind the bar,