Page 4 of From Drummer to Gamer

I nodded, bumping his fist.

The late afternoon sun was still glaring bright when I exited the studio. I craved another caramel latte but bit through it as I made my way to my car.

Tomorrow,I told myself.

Soon, Chopin’s Nocturnes in B-flat minor filled the car as the city became a distant view in the rearview mirror. My thoughts drifted away as I drove to my favorite town, Iona.

A town that would soon change my lifeforever.

CHAPTER 2

MATT

An hour later, my eyes trailed over the sign on the side of the road that said,Welcome to Iona.

A small town in Upstate New York that I’d been visiting for the past couple of months.

Knowing the route, I drove past the run-down streets that housed a diner, a town hall, and a cinema before I cut through to the edge of town, and a familiar building came into sight.

St. Mary’s Home and School for Children.

My car slowed as the vast lawn riddled with pink, purple, and blue flowers came into view. I parked my car at the usual spot and strolled to the side entrance that led straight to the hostel block.

The sound of the door swinging open made Lucia look up from her tiny desk in the small reception area.

“Mr. Evans,” Lucia greeted me with a kind smile that made the lines in her eyes crease.

“Afternoon, Lucia.”

“Right on time. They’ve been excited since morning.”

“Don’t I know it?”

“You know where to go.” She tilted her chin as her smile widened. “They’re all waiting for you.”

“Thanks.” I nodded.

The clatter and the murmurs grew louder as I approached the end of the long hallway to the double doors.

As soon as I opened the doors, a rush of rowdy brats crowded me all in an array of excitement.

A rare smile lifted my lips as I lowered myself to personally greet them. It took me about twenty minutes to say hello to every one of them, but I didn’t give a fuck about my time.

I couldn’t say no to the stories that those little ones told me. The gleam in their eyes and the smile on their lips was worth every bit of my time.

“Mr. Matt, we missed you. Are you going to watch a movie with us today?” Mitchell asked, the little one’s eyes filled with hope as she bit her lips.

“Of course I am, but first I need to see if you’ve been practicing, missy, and then movie, okay?”

“Okay,” she mumbled, giving me a toothy grin. “I’ve been practicing all week, Mr. Matt.”

“Good girl,” I whispered before I hollered to the rest of them, “Now, all of you take your places, and we’ll start in a few.”

Everyone screamed in excitement as they all scattered around the room to their designated places.

My eyes landed on the one boy who was huddled in the far corner. I smiled as I walked up to him and crouched down.

“Hey, little fella.”