Before he was Johnny Boom, heartthrob lead singer of BOOM!, he was just John Bumpass, the marching band’s tuba player whom I was desperately in love with.
I played flute. Maestro Bortles told us, “Close your eyes, envision yourself marching,” John reached over, tapped out a 4/4 rhythm on my thigh.
Home from another day teaching music to students who hate me, no one to fall into (except my cat, who’s vomited in the kitchen).
“Alexa, play ‘Tender’ by BOOM!.”
Johnny sings in 4/4 time — sweet, lusty things. I lie down, I tap my thigh. I envision him marching through me.