softhetheater,studentsmilledabout,mentallypreparingfortheirturns,practigtheirfingeringonanyflatsurface.Mr.Martinpacedamongus,tingheads,reassuriage-frighteheinpetent,andtherelut."Youaremyprizepupil,"hesaid."ThebestIveevertaught.Theonlyrealpianoplayerinthewholebunch.Makethemcry,Henry."Andwiththat,hepinnedaationonmylapel.Heswirledandpartedthecurtainstothebrightnessofthefootlightstoweletheassemblage.Myperformahegrandfinale,soIhadtimetoduckoutthebadsmokeaCamelpinchedfrommyfatherspack.Awintersnighthadfallen,clearandcold.Arat,startledbymypresehealley,stoppedandstaredatme.Ishowedthevermih,hissedandglowered,butIcouldnotscareit.Onceuponatime,suchcreatureswereterrifiedofme.

    Thatfrozennight,Ifeltentirelyhumanaehethoughtofthewarmtheater.Ifthiswastobemyfarewellperformance,Iresolvedtogivethemsomethingtoremembermeby.Imovedlikeawhip,cragthekeys,thundering,floating,therightpressureonallthepartialnotes.Membersoftheaudiencebeganrisingfromtheirseatstoleadtheapplausebeforethestringsstoppedhumming.Ented,theyshoweredtheirhuzzahs,somuchsothatIalmostfothowmuchIhatedthewholebusiness.Backstage,Mr.Martiedmefirst,tearsofjoyinhiseyes,squealing"Bravo,"aheotherstudents,halfofthembarelymaskingtheirreseheotherhalfedwithjealousy,aowledgingwithgrudginggracioushatIhadoutshoheirperformances.Iheparents,siblings,friends,neighbors,andassortedmusiclovers.Theyclumpedaroundtheplayers,butIdrewthelargestcrowd,andIdidnotnoticethewomanintheredcoatuntilmostofthewell-wishershadvanished.