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I don’t make it to the kitchen

Voices fro Tanner where his ar, then the noise of drawers and cupboards opening and shutting I didn’t check the ti sleepy, I figure it couldn’t hurt to be a little social and see if I can help

Until I hear the words: “But I don’t think it should be Bobby”

I stop halfway down the stairs,for the next step, now frozen in place

The words came from Billy

“Why not?” asks Tanner “He’s been rehearsin’ every damned day with my brother”

“Yeah, but …” Billy lets out a sigh Some container is set down I can’t see, the kitchen (and both its occupants) not fully in view “You’ve gotta think about presentation here The McPhersons—”

“Billy, do you even hear yourself?”

“I do! But think about how it’ll look when your brother—who is a real dancer—does a little ‘for fun’ jig with his best friend Now iine that you’re an investor, or one of the McPhersons’ rich friends, or a couple of snobs fro to donate a bunch ofsome aard show?”

“Well …”

“I just think Ji number with an actual dancer An actual trained dancer Camille Randall should be his partner She still dances, Tanner, and she’s still in town”

Tanner lets out a sigh “Maybe that is the whole point We’re raising ht? What better way to showcase the effect of studying the arts than to have a choreographed nuives it style! Flair! Character!”

“I don’t agree I know these snobs, even ues, “and they ant top-notch If they don’t get it, they’re gonna think, ‘Why do I want to support some medium-caliber school?’ They’re snobs, Tanner They don’t think like you and I do”

After a cold silence passes, I hear Tanner take two slow steps toward him “Billy, I love you But the only person who sounds like a snob right now is you”

A scoff hisses its way out of the kitchen “Tanner …”

I listen to the side door open, then close Billy’s feet shuffle on the kitchen tiles as he paces A cupboard is shut, then I hear Billy ar for a proper apple crumble,” before the side door opens and shuts once more