"Three friends and I were going to be in the band and we were going to call ourselves T.E.L.L. - Todd, Eric, Laurie, and Lori. I was going to play drums and sing, Todd would play bass guitar, one Lori would play keyboard, and the other Laurie would play lead guitar." Smiling faces look at me with expressions of amusement trying to picture this old guy in a band.

"Oh, we had it all figured out," my eyes widen like a mad scientist about to bring forth something that will change the course of history. "Now, there were two problems - I couldn't sing and I didn't know how to play drums. But those were just details because I knew that in sixth grade we'd have music class focused on singing and in seventh grade I could take band and learn how to play drums. I just had to get to those grades and it would be full speed ahead." I pause to look at the group and study their faces. I have their full attention. How would this story end? What would the moral be? What happened with the band?

“When I got to sixth grade my music teacher Mrs. Schmidt told me - in front of the whole class - that I couldn't sing. I told myself that was okay. You don't have to be able to sing to be in a band. You do need to know how to play an instrument. The dream is still alive.” I pause again for effect.

“Then I got to seventh grade and was so excited that after all these years of biding my time I was finally going to learn how to play the drums. A week into band class everyone in my grade had their instruments - even the drummers - except me. I sat in class watching everyone else play. I was confused and frustrated for sure. I walked into Mr. Tripolino's office after Friday band class one day and asked him when my drum kit was going to arrive.”

I break off my story momentarily to make eye contact with every student in the room. All eyes are on me. No one makes a sound. No one moves. I take a deep breath and fully exhale before continuing.

 "Mr. Tripolino looked at me and said, 'Well, I didn't think you'd be any good at it so I didn't bother ordering any for you’."

A collective gasp of horror fills the room.