Hey, Annette. What're you up so late for?
Some kinda research?
Oh no, it's nothing like that. I've been working
[cdb]on this.
Uhhh. That just looks like a bunch of little black bugs
[cdb]jumping around on a page.
Excuse you, it's sheet music! I have no idea how
[cdb]you could possibly think the notes look like bugs.
Sorry, sorry. It's just, I don't think I've ever actually
[cdb]seen sheet music before. Does this mean you're
[cdb]writing a new song?
Mmhm! A lovely tune popped into my head today,
[cdb]so I wanted to jot it down before I forgot.
Ask if you can hear it.
Ask what kind of song it is.
Mind singing it for me? I'd love to know what
[cdb]kinda song it is.
Nope, sorry—I'm not done writing the lyrics yet.
I have a rough outline, but that's about it so far.
What kinda song is it? I can't read sheet music,
[cdb]so I'm having trouble imagining what it'll be like.
If it turns out right, it'll be bouncy and fun. Though,
I'm nowhere near finishing the lyrics yet.
Still, I want to write something happy. A song that'll
[cdb]make people feel good when they sing it.
That sounds great. I can't wait till it's finished.
Hey, um... Do you remember the song I wrote about
[cdb]that knight?
Knight? Oh, you mean the horse with the human—
Ah. Mmhmm. Uh, yep. Yeah. The song about the
[cdb]knight, course.
Well, I heard someone singing it again.
Look, Annette, I know you're upset I let it slip,
[cdb]but what's done is done.
I didn't mean it like that. I... I heard a mercenary
[cdb]singing it to himself as he died.
He was covered in blood, and could hardly breathe.
Yet he had this great, big smile on his face as the
[cdb]words crossed his lips.
He must have been in so much pain...but still he just
[cdb]kept smiling.
Probably thinking back to all the times he'd spent
[cdb]drinking and singing with his friends.
Soldiers always throw the wildest parties after a
[cdb]battle. The sorta thing where you can find knights
[cdb]and mercs alike locking arms and belting out tunes.
Maybe. Anyway, I've been thinking about that
[cdb]mercenary a lot ever since he passed.
I never wanted that song out in the world, and I'm
[cdb]honestly still not happy about it.
But it helped him face his final moments with a smile,
[cdb]instead of sadness or fear. And I'm forever grateful I
[cdb]could provide that.
It's like I told you before, Annette. Your songs can
[cdb]really help people.
I'm sure tons more took comfort in that song, too.
Including me. Whenever I'm feeling down, I just
[cdb]think about one of your silly songs and I'm right back
[cdb]in high spirits.
Silly? Are you implying my lyrics aren't serious?
No, never mind. I'll choose to take it as a
[cdb]compliment.
And hey, if my songs really help people that much,
I better get to work writing lots of new ones!
There you go. So, what's this next one gonna be
[cdb]about?
Well, right now I'm planning to make it be about a
[cdb]group of friends who dig into a huuuge feast together.
They keep churning out dish after delicious dish,
[cdb]and everyone's faces are alight with laughter and joy.
Wow. I'm getting hungry just hearing about it.
Right? Then once all the food runs out, they go
[cdb]off hunting for ingredients so they can cook up
[cdb]some more.
Uhh, OK.
But, uh oh! They come across a ginormous bear,
[cdb]and have to battle it to the death!
A deathmatch with a bear? I thought this was
[cdb]supposed to be a happy song about a feast.
Eh, guess I shouldn't judge it before it's done.
Just let me know when you're finished, OK?
I wanna be the first in line to hear it.