Если я останусь

           Inapurelyaestheticway.He’squeer,thoughitmaybehardtotellbecausehe’sEnglish."

           "Oh.Isee.Butwhatdidhesay?Imeanitsoundslikehewantsmetocompeteagainsthim."

           "Ofcoursehedoes.That’sthefun.That’swhywe’reallatcampinthemiddleofaflippingrainforest,"hesaid,gesturingoutside."Thatandtheamazingcuisine."Peterlookedatme."Isn’tthatwhyyou’rehere?"

           Ishrugged."Idon’tknow.Ihaven’tplayedwiththatmanypeople,atleastthatmanyseriouspeople."

           Peterscratchedhisears."Really?Yousaidyou’refromOregon.EverdoneanythingwiththePortlandCelloProject?"

           "Thewhat?"

           "Avant-gardecellocollective,eh.Veryinterestingwork."

           "Idon’tliveinPortland,"Imumbled,embarrassedthatI’dneverevenheardofanyCelloProject.

           "Wellthen,whodoyouplaywith?"

           "Otherpeople.Collegestudentsmostly."

           "Noorchestra?Nochamber-musicensemble?Stringquartet?"

           Ishookmyhead,rememberingatimewhenoneofmystudentteachersinvitedmetoplayinaquartet.I’dturnedherdownbecauseplayingone-on-onewithherwasonething;playingwithcompletestrangerswasanother.I’dalwaysbelievedthatthecellowasasolitaryinstrument,butnowIwasstartingtowonderifmaybeIwasthesolitaryone.

           "Hmm.Howareyouanygood?"Peterasked."Idon’tmeantosoundlikeana**hole,butisn’tthathowyougetgood?It’sliketennis.