bedandcamebackdown,butyone."Hereyeswelledupassheretedtheexperience."Welookedoverhillandyonbutcouldntfindyou.Asthedayworeon,Icalledyourfathertoehome,aelephohepolidthefiremen,andwewerealllookingforyouforhours,callingoutyourothenight."Shelookedpastme,asifrelivingtheexperienhermindseye.

    "Anyms,Mom?"

    Shewavedherspoontowardthestove,andIhelpedmyself."Whenitgrewdark,Igrewafraidforyou.Whoknowswhatlivesoutinthatforest?IknewawomanonDonegalwhosebabywasstolenfromher.Shedgoopickblackberriesaherchildsleepingonablahtsummerday,andwhenshecameback,thebabywasgone,andtheyneverdidfindit,poorthing,notatrace.Allthatremainedressioonthegrass."

    Ipepperedmyeggsanddugin.

    "Ithoughtofyoulostandwantingyourmother,andIcouldoyou,andIprayedtoGodthatyoudehome.Whentheyfoundyou,itwaslikeasedce.Quittingwouldbethrowingawayyoursedce,yod-givengift.Itsablessingandyoushoulduseyourtalent."

    "Lateforschool."Imoppedtheplatewithaheelofbread,kissedthetopofherhead,aed.BeforeImadeitdownthefrontsteps,Iregrettednotbeingmoreforceful.Mostofmylifehasbeenruledbyindecision,andIamgratefulwheercedes,relievingmefromchoidresponsibilityformyas.

    Bythetimeofthewinterrecitalthatyear,justthesightandsoundofthepianomademystomach.IcouldnotdisappointmyparentsbyquittingMr.Martinaltogether,soIpretehatallwaswell.Wearrivedearly,atthecerthall,amyfamilyatthedoortofindtheirseatswhileImopedaboutbackstage.Thefolderolsurroundingtherecitalsremainedunged.Inthewing