Если я останусь

           "YouknowthatIusedtogetthemostferociousjittersbeforeashow."

           IlookedatDad,whoalwaysseemedabsolutelysureofeverythingintheworld."You’rejustsayingthat."

           Heshookhishead."No,I’mnot.Itwasgod-awful.AndIwasthedrummer,wayintheback.Nooneevenpaidanyattentiontome."

           "Sowhatdidyoudo?"Iasked.

           "Hegotwasted,"Mominterjected,pokingherheadoutthestagedoor.Shewaswearingablackvinylminiskirt,aredtanktop,andTeddy,droolinglyhappyfromhisBabyBjörn."Apairofforty-ouncersbeforetheshow.Idon’trecommendthatforyou."

           "Yourmotherisprobablyright,"Dadsaid."Socialservicesfrownsondrunkten-year-olds.Besides,whenIdroppedmydrumsticksandpukedonstage,itwaspunk.Ifyoudropyourbowandsmelllikeabrewery,itwilllookgauche.Youclassical-musicpeoplearesosnobbythatway."

           NowIwaslaughing.Iwasstillscared,butitwassomehowcomfortingtothinkthatmaybestagefrightwasatraitI’dinheritedfromDad;Iwasn’tjustsomefoundling,afterall.

           "WhatifImessitup?WhatifI’mterrible?"

           "I’vegotnewsforyou,Mia.There’sgoingtobeallkindsofterribleinthere,soyouwon’treallystandout,"Momsaid.Teddygaveasquealofagreement.

           "Butseriously,howdoyougetoverthejitters?"

           DadwasstillsmilingbutIcouldtellhehadturnedseriousbecausehesloweddownhisspeech."Youdon’t.Youjustworkthroughit.Youjusthanginthere."

           SoIwenton.Ididn’tblazethroughthepiece