Chapter 98

“How did you learn to do that?” I asked Carrie, attempting a two-finger rendition of Chopsticks. “All by ear?”

“My mother signed me up for lessons when I was six. My teacher always yelled at me for playing by ear, but I got pretty good at both.” She pulled at the cuffs of her top. “They’re not all bad. My parents, I mean.”

“Maybe they’ll come around,” Patrick said.

“Maybe.”

“Watch this.” To keep the mood light. I pulled up “Climb Every Mountain” on YouTube while Phil Collins sang “You Can’t Hurry Love” over the PA system. The Sound of Music solo became a quartet, when I sang, Wilbur howled, and so did Patrick and Carrie.

“Ahhhhooooooooohhhhhhhh!!!”