noldlogandbreakyandnobodywouldeverfindyou.Oryoucouldbecaughtinablizzardwiththewindblowingeverywhichwayuntilyoutfindyourownfrontdoor,aheydfindyouthem,frozenlikeaPopsiottefromhome."

    "Enough!"TheyshoutedinunisonaofftowatchHowdyDoodyorRomperRoom.Iknew,however,thatwhileIwasatschoolorrehearsingwiththeband,theywouldignoremycautions.Theydehomewithgrassstainsontheirkneesandbottoms,titheirbareskin,twigsintheircurls,frogsintheiroveralls,andthesmellofdaheirbreath.

    Butthatnighttheyweresleepinglambs,andtwodoorsdownmyparentssnored.Myfathercalledoutmynameinhissleep,butIdarednotasuchalatehour.Thehousegrewpreternaturallystill.Ihadtoldmydarkestsecretwithnosequences,soIwenttobed,safeasever.

    Theysaythatoneneverfetsonesfirstlove,butIamchagrioadmitthatIdonotrememberhernameormuchelseabouther—otherthathatshewasthefirstgirlIsawnaked.Forthesakeofthestory,IllcallherSally.MaybethatactuallywashererthesummerofmyfessiontoOscar,IresumedmylessonswithMr.Martin,andthereshewas.Shehaddepartedattheendoftheschoolyearaurnedadiffereure—someoobedesired,afetish,anobsession.Iamasguiltyofanonymouslustasaitwasshewhoe.HeraffesIgratefullyacceptedwithoutpause.Ihadbeennotighercurvesformonths,beforeshegatheredthecetospeaktomeatthewinterrecital.Westoodtogetherbackstageinourformalwear,enduriforourindividualturnsatthepiano.Theyoukidswentfirst,fonyisbestservedasaizer.

    "Wheredidyoulearntoplay?"Sallywhisperedoveranaglyslowmi.

    &quhthere.ImeanwithMr.Martin."

    "