Если я останусь

           ProfessorChristietoldmethatIwasoneofthemostpromisingstudentsshe’devertaught,butshe’dnevermentionedJuilliardtome.Juilliardwasforvirtuosomusicians,anditseemedarroganttoeventhinkthatthey’dgivemeasecondglance.

           Butaftertheretreat,whensomeoneelse,someoneimpartialandfromtheEastCoast,deemedmeJuilliard-worthy,theideaburrowedintoGran’sbrain.ShetookituponherselftospeaktoProfessorChristieaboutit,andmyteachertookholdoftheidealikeaterriertoabone.

           So,Ifilledoutmyapplication,collectedmylettersofrecommendation,andsentinarecordingofmyplaying.Ididn’ttellAdamaboutanyofthis.Ihadtoldmyselfthatitwasbecausetherewasnopointadvertisingitwhenevengettinganauditionwassuchalongshot.ButeventhenI’drecognizedthatfortheliethatitwas.Asmallpartofmefeltlikeevenapplyingwassomekindofbetrayal.JuilliardwasinNewYork.Adamwashere.

           Butnotathighschoolanymore.Hewasayearaheadofme,andthispastyear,mysenioryear,he’dstartedattheuniversityintown.Heonlywenttoschoolpart-timenowbecauseShootingStarwasstartingtogetpopular.TherewasarecorddealwithaSeattle-basedlabel,andalotoftravelingtogigs.SoonlyafterIgotthecreamyenvelopeembossedwithTheJuilliardSchoolandaletterinvitingmetoauditiondidItellAdamthatI’dapplied.Iexplainedhowmanypeopledidn’tgetthatfar.Atfirsthelookedalittleawestruck,likehecouldn’tquitebelieveit.Thenhegaveasadlittlesmile.