Room Of Plastic Flowers

Lifehouse in: The Missing Drummer

It was a lovely September morning in a little place called “Rick’s House.” Rick stretched his arms above his head and gave a rather large yawn as he arose from his comfy bed. Rick tiptoed out of bed and carefully opened the bathroom door making sure to look inside before he went in. Rick was a little nervous about today. It was his 27th birthday. He wasn’t scared of getting older or the thought of his youth slipping away. Rick was nervous because he didn’t know what this birthday had in store for him. Let’s face it, it had been a pretty weird year for the band members’ and their birthdays…Bryce being kidnapped by the Muppets and Jason having a semi mid-life crisis. Nope, Rick wasn’t taking any chances. He was going to play it safe this year…just a nice celebration with friends and family…this being Jason, Bryce, and Ben of course. Rick drove over to Bryce’s apartment to meet up with the guys.

Bryce: Hey, man! Happy Birthday!
Rick: Thanks. Look, normally I would be hoping that you guys had planned something manly, death-defying, us doing male bonding activities together, and sharing the bonds of brotherhood in a festive manner…but I’d appreciate it if we could just rent some dirty movies and pig-out on junk food all night. Ok?
Bryce: You mean you weren’t planning on doing that stuff before? Cause I’ve got the dirty movies already to go…
Rick: Oh great! So when are the other two coming?
Bryce: Uh, soon. Wait, you mean you don’t want to do crazy stuff anymore? You’re usually the one who almost gets us killed.
Rick: Ok, listen. I just don’t want to push it this year. I mean, you know how birthdays have been going this year…
Bryce: What? You mean the Muppets and Jason losing his marbles? Come on, that’s not that bad. Oh, by the way, Animal wants his drum sticks back.
Rick: Oh yeah, I’ve been meaning to send him those…
Bryce: Ok, so the Muppets drugging me doesn’t happen everyday…so what if Jason still mumbles about Floyd the Eskimo in his sleep…
Rick: What?!
Bryce: Oh…I really wasn’t suppose to mention that. The point is that your birthday is going to be fine.
Rick: Yeah you’re right, man; I’m being really paranoid.

A few hours later Jason and Ben showed up. They walked up to Bryce’s apartment and knocked on the door.

Jason: Hey Bryce! Is Rick here yet?
Bryce: Um…yeah about Rick…
Ben: Well where is he?
Bryce: Here, come inside.

Jason and Ben followed Bryce into his apartment and closed the door behind them. They sat down on Bryce’s couch as Bryce paced back and forth.

Jason: Come on, Bryce. What is this all about?
Bryce: God…I don’t know how to say this…
Ben: Bryce, just say it.
Bryce: I sorta…kinda…lost…Rick.
Jason: You lost Rick?! You lost Rick?!
Ben: Whoa…I didn’t think that was possible.
Jason: You lost Rick?!
Bryce: Would you stop saying that! Yes, I lost Rick. I’m a terrible person.
Ben: Ok, just retrace your steps.
Bryce: It’s not like I lost a sock! I lost a human being! And I feel so bad cause Rick was being really careful about his birthday…
Ben: Rick was being careful?
Bryce: Well, you know with me and the Muppet thing and Jason dreaming about Floyd---
Jason: Bryce! I told you not to tell anyone that!
Bryce: So Rick was worried something would happen to him and now because of me, it has.
Ben: Jason still dreams about Floyd?
Jason: Alright, enough with Floyd. We’re just friends. We’re going ice fishing this weekend.
Ben: Hey, what you do with your free time is your business.
Jason: Anyways, just tell us exactly what happened.
Bryce: Ok, well…

Bryce went on to explain what had happened that night. The two men decided to pick up some much-needed junk food and other things to make their paranoid party a success.

Bryce: So we’re walking down the block and out of nowhere these two girls recognize us and asked us to sign some stuff.
Jason: That sounds normal enough.
Bryce: I know, but then this parade starts coming through the streets. I think it was to raise money for out-of-work ventriloquists. *Ben and Jason exchange looks* Anyways, it starts to get really crowded…

Rick and Bryce are getting lost in the parade.

Rick: Whoa look at this man!
Bryce: You know I’ve lived here for awhile now, and I can honestly say I have never seen a parade like this before…it’s almost as if…Rick? Rick?
Rick: *running up to the floats* Hey Bryce! Do you think if I tell them it’s my birthday they’ll let me ride on one of the floats?
Bryce: I thought you were playing it safe.
Rick: I can’t help it! Life is too short not to ride in a parade for out-of-work ventriloquists.
Bryce: Wise words, my friend.
------------------------------------
Bryce: And then he was gone.
Ben: Wait a minute…what?
Bryce: He was gone.
Jason: You mean one minute he was dancing with out-of-work ventriloquists and the next he wasn’t there anymore?
Bryce: Yes. I swear, I looked down at my shoes for like a second and when I looked up again the float he was on was gone…vanished…it was really spooky. I got the chills.
Jason: This isn’t good. I don’t like ventriloquists when they’re getting paid. I can’t imagine what they would do to Rick.
Ben: Alright, I say we go down the street and see if there’s anyone there who can help. I’m not going to see Rick’s birthday ruined like your birthdays.
Bryce: Well, I wouldn’t really say my birthday was ruined per say…
Jason: I’m with Ben. Let’s try and see what we can find out.

So the men of Lifehouse set out on a little trip a couple streets down to find their missing drummer. They finally reached the street where most of the floats had stopped and were being put away for storage. Ben noticed some suspicious looking characters over by an abandoned warehouse, so the guys decided to start asking some questions. They walked up to a guy in a long black coat smoking a cigarette in the alley. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in a few days.

Jason: Hey, you!
Man: You talkin’ to me?
Jason: Yeah I’m talkin’ to you? I wanna know something.
Man: Really? Why should I tell you anything?
Ben: We just want to know if you know where the out-of-work ventriloquists went after the parade.
Man: Yeah, maybe I do know something.
Bryce: Oh, and if there was a short bald man with them.
Man: I’ll tell ya for some doe. A $20 should do it.
Bryce: Jason, pay the man.
Jason: Why me?
Bryce: Cause you’re the lead singer/guitarist, and it’s a well-known fact that the lead singer/guitarist always pays when a band is trying to get information about a missing band member; Rule #343 in Rules of the Road v.2. Man, don’t you ever read?
Jason: *sighs* Oh alright. *pays the man* I need to find new friends.
Man: Thanks. I think I saw your friend in that warehouse with those ventriloquist people. *shutters* I never did like ventriloquists. Never trust a person who can talk without moving they’re lips, that’s what I say.
Bryce: How very wise of you.

After speaking with “The Wise One,” the guys headed towards the warehouse in the hopes of finding they’re friend.

Jason: Man, I hope Rick’s ok…
Ben: Aw, that’s cute that you miss him.
Jason: Well, that and we still have to finish recording the new album.
Bryce: Very good point.

The guys walked into a dark room with a crowd of people gathered towards the back corner. A small stage was set up. One of the people announced the name of a ventriloquist. The crowd started to clap and out came a man with none other than Rick with white paint on his face, wearing an old fashioned button-up shirt and suspenders.

Jason: Oh…my…God…
Ben: Rick! What have they done to him?
Bryce: I think he’s “bringing sexy back.” *snickers*
Jason: Enough with the Justin Timberlake jokes, you know it upsets him.
Bryce: Sorry, I couldn’t help it.
Jason: Come on, we got to get behind that curtain.

As the guys made their way backstage, Rick and the ventriloquist did a little act that left the audience in stitches. The guys waited backstage until both men came off. Rick walked casually to a small mirror to fix his makeup.

Jason: *running up to him* Rick! Come on! Now’s our chance to get you out of here!
Rick: Hey, Jason! I’m glad you’re here.
Jason: Come on, we gotta go now.
Rick: Why would I want to go? I’m having a blast here! Benji, the ventriloquist I was working with on stage, he says I have great stage presence. I told him I’ve been a drummer for many years and he thinks it would be a great act, and that I just might get him a job.
Bryce: You mean, you’re having fun here?
Rick: Are you kidding? This is the best birthday I’ve ever had, and it’s all thanks to a certain person who got me to the parade in the first place. I would have stayed inside watching dirty movies all day if it weren’t for---
Bryce: Oh, Rick, it was nothing. I’m glad I could help make your birthday special.
Rick: Uh, I was talking about the writer…
Jason: I thought you hated her?
Rick: Well, she has put me in a lot of crazy situations, but I’ve learned to accept that. Thanks writer!
Writer: Happy Birthday, Rick!