Once upon an afternoon

The clanking was approaching, making Ace nervous. She needed to concentrate while preparing nitro9. Exploding to gazillion pieces could ruin her day.
"Professor," she shouted. "Enough with the spoons!"
A reply came while Ace was inserting fuses: "I once lost an afternoon playing a drum. I prefer spoons."
"Lost? Look behind the fridge," Ace answered distractedly.
***
Twisting a timer, Ace aimed at a practice target.
"The drum wasn't there."
The bomb slipped from Ace's hand.
"But I found the afternoon. And I know where to put it."
The ticking flask disappeared.
"We should go. The place will explode this afternoon."