Lizlaughednervously.“Maybeyoushouldwaittillthecompetition'soverbeforeyoudecidethat.”Oneafteranother, thesoloistsscheduledbeforeLizplayed.Theclockclickedominouslyclosetoher11：05performancetime.“Dad'shere,”Lizwhisperedtome.“Icanhearhiminthehallway.”Herfathertroopedin, , hersocial-studiesteacherandaccompanist, winkedather.“Hey, notasbadasoneofmytests, isit?”Lizchuckled, thetensioneasingfromherface, , pleaseletherplayherbest.
, , lettingmyselfbecarriedawaybymydaughter'ssong.
'snervousnessatperforminginfrontofherfather.
AllatonceIpicturedmyownfather, , adamantlyopposedtoanykindofdebt, concedingtomakepaymentsonatop-of-the-line, full-sizeaccordionwhenI', seriousdad, crankingupourLowreyorgan, , overworkedfatherleaningbackinhisrecliner, hisburdenschasedawaybytearsofjoyathearinghisyoungestchildplayhisfavoritesong.
Mydad, whomusthavefeltsoawfulknowinghispresencepreventedmefromplayingwellonstagethathehadn', I'.
Lizputdownherfluteandtookabowtothunderousapplause（well, thunderoustoaproudmother, anyway），“Mom, Ididn'tevenseethemusic,”Lizexclaimedinthecaronthewayhome.“Imean, Iwaslookingatit, butIdidn'.”Iknewwhatshemeant.
MondaymorningafterLiz'scompetition, Isetoutformy4：'ssoftrock, ?
Awoman'ssmokycontraltocroonedwordsI'dneverheardsung, thoughtheywereprintedonthetatteredsheetmusicinmyoldaccordioncase.“Heavenlyshadesofnightarefalling, it'stwilighttime/Outofthemist, yourvoiceiscalling, it'stwilighttime/Whenpurple-coloredcurtainsmarktheendofday/I'llhearyou, mydear, attwilighttime.”
