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Show 2-5 It took them a moment to collect hats and call in my cousins. Then they were gone. The air was still light but was fading fast. A cooler breeze came in from the west, moving the trees in the front yard. Fidelio was a golden shape as he trotted up the street on his night errands. My father was in the darkening living room, looking out the window. While Mother and I washed and stacked the dishes, he stood there. On my way between sink and shelves, I took quick peeks in at him. His silence worried me. Wasn't he glad to be home? Had Mother and I somehow disappointed him? When we had finished, I started up the stairs to my room. I wanted to avoid him, as I had all day. "Annie," Father called to me, his back still to me. "Yes?" I waited, my hand on the banister, wanting to keep going to my room. "Come down and let's listen to your mother play." He turned and sat on the heavy couch facing the piano. "Come sit with me." He patted the pillow beside him. "This is what I have waited for." I saw Mother standing in the door to the kitchen, silhoutted against its light, drying her hands on a towel. She walked to where Father sat, leaned over him and kissed his forehead. She waited while I walked slowly to the sofa and perched hesitantly next to Father. She circled me with her arm and pulled me close to him. Then she kissed me too on the forehead. "What do you want to hear?" "Anything. I want to hear you play." I don't know what she played. The notes had no distinct tone but melted together and poured over Father and me where we sat in the darkness. I lay |