d.Maybeyousawsomeonewholookedabitlikemyson.Imsorryforyourtroubles."Shelookedintohiseyes,seargforaffirmation,butheofferedonlythesolaceofhiscalmdemeanor.Hetooktheredcoatfromherarmaopenforher.Sheslippediheheroomwithoutaword,withoutlookingbaherwaketrailedtheremnantsofangeranday.

    "Didyouever?"mymotherasked."Whatastory.Andtothinkthatshedactuallyhavetheosayit."

    Fromtheerofmyeye,Icouldseemyfatherwatgme,andthesensationunnervedme."wegonow?wegetoutofhere?"

    ereallinthedoutofthecity,Iannouncedmydecision."Imnotgoingbackthere.Nomorerecitals,nomorelessons,nomorestrangersinguptomewiththeirwildstories.Iquit."

    Foramoment,Ithoughtmyfatherwoulddriveofftheroad.HelitacigaretteaMomtakeovertheversation.

    "Henry,youknowhowIfeelaboutquitting...."

    "Didyouhearwhatthatladysaid?"Marychimedin."Shethoughtyoulivedinthewoods."

    "Youdonteveaoatree."Elizabethlaughed.

    "Thisisntaboutyourfeelings,Mom,butmine."

    Myfatherstaredatthewhitelihemiddleoftheroad.

    "Youareasensitiveboy,"mymothertinued."Butyoutletonewomanwithooryruinyourlife.Youdootellmeyoingtoquiteightyearsofworkonthebasisofafairytale."

    "Itisntthewomanintheredcoat.Ivehadenough.GoneasfarasIgo."

    "Bill,whydontyousaysomething?"

    "Dad,Imtiredofit.Sickofpractice,practice,practice.TiredofwastingmySaturdays.IthinkIshouldhaveasayovermyownlife.&