Page 67 of Dark Verse

“Guess that’s better than Rhinoman?”

The kid is nearly vibrating with excitement. “I knew it! We listen to your songs every morning before school.”

I grin immediately. “That’s a serious endorsement.”

The father chuckles, clearly recognizing Knox as well.

“I’m Miguel, and this tornado is Leo.”

Leo indeed moves like a force of nature, bouncing between his dad and Knox, pulling at the sleeves of his own shirt.

“Knox. Obviously.” He smiles, shaking Miguel’s hand. “And this lovely woman with me is my manager, Raven.”

Knox winks at me, and I just hold back my eye roll.

“Very nice to meet you, too,” Miguel says, shaking my hand with just as much vigor.

“And you.”

“My wife and I, we’ve been fans since…God, probably your first album. We were still in high school. It’s so cool to meet you, man.”

“Your song Animal’s People is the best,” Leo chimes right in. “But No Saints, All Sinners is so good too. And we just listened to Autumn Honeybee right before we got out of the car!”

“Do you have a favorite?” Knox asks.

Leo freezes in movement as he thinks.

“Hmm…maybe…maybe…Green Grass!” he shouts happily.

Knox, Miguel, and I all glance at each other in the way only adults know how to when they know something a child does not. Miguel holds his hands up in defeat.

Looking mildly embarrassed, Miguel says, “I should be more ashamed, but I’m not. If I never listen to another Kidz Bop album again, it will be too soon. I need real music to battle morning traffic.”

We all chuckle.

Leo looks at Knox again with a newfound seriousness. “Your music makes my dad happy.”

I see how those words land across Knox’s expression. His surprise quickly turns into curiosity, but neither of us asks for further explanation.

A moment of hesitation passes between us before Miguel sighs, rubbing the back of his neck as he looks at his son.

“It’s been a rough year for us. Some close friends…have had to leave,” Miguel settles on.

“I’m sorry,” Knox and I both say.

“They moved back to their home country. They didn’t feel safe anymore.”

He pauses again, watching Leo as he bounces away. Leo makes his way back to the child-sized table to keep scribbling over the paper.

When he begins speaking again, Miguel’s voice is sadder.

“Twenty-seven years living here. They had their family here. Just had their second grandkid. They built their home with their own hands. They were investing in their community…they are family to us. Things have been an adjustment since they left. Music helped. A lot.”

Knox’s expression softens completely alongside my heart. In just a few words, I know Miguel just showed us a little part of his heart and his hurt.

“Thank you,” Knox says.

“No, thank you, man. It’s…it’s nice to see you back out on stage. I’ve seen some of your posts on my socials.”