第25章一架红木钢琴（2）
Thehadadirtfloorandthereweresinthehouse。Obviously，theoldladyothavequalifiedtopurythi-noophone，norealjob，nothingbutaroofoverherheadandnoodo。Icouldseedaylightthroughitinseveralplaces。Herlittlegranddaughterwasabout10，barefootandwearingafeed-sackdress。
Iexplaiheoldladythatweotsellanewpianofor＄10amonthandthatsheshouldsttouseverytimeshesawourad。Idroveawayheartsick，butmyadvioeffect—shestillsentusthesamepostcardeverysixantinganewpianany，please，andswearingshewouldnevermissa＄10payment。It>
Acoupleofyearslater，Iownedmyoany，andwheisedihepostcardsstartedonths，IigelsecouldIdo？
Butthen，onedaywhenIwasihinge。Ihadaredmahoganypianoonmylittletruck。DespiteknowingthatIwasabouttomakeaterriblebusinessde，IdeliveredthepiaoldherIwouldcarrytheyselfat＄10amonthwithhatayments。ItookthenewpianointhehouseawhereIthoughttheroofwouldbeleastlikelytorainonit。Iadmohelittlegirltotrytokeepthesoffit，a—sureIhadjustthropiano。
Butthepayments，all52ofthemasagreed—sometimeswithstapedtoa3×5intheewasincredible！
So，Iputtheiofmymindfor20years。
ThenonedayIhisonotherbusiness，andafterdiheHolidayInnointothelounge。AsIwassittingatthebarhavinganafter-dinnerdrihemostbeautifulpianomusidme。Ilookedaround，andtherewasalovelyyounglayingaverynidpiano。
Beingapianistofsomeabilitymyself，Iwasstuuosity，andIpickedupmydrinkaablebesideherwhereIcouldlistenandwatch。Shesmiledatme，askis，aookabreakshesatdownatmytable。
&hemanwhosoldmygrandmaapianoalongtimeago？”
Itdidn’tringabell，soIaskedhertoexplain。
&edtotellme，andIsuddenlyremembered。MyLord，itwasher！Itwasthelittlebarefootgirlinthefeedsackdress！
&oldmehernamewasEliseandsincehergrandmother’taffordtopayforlessons，shehadlearoplaybylisteningtotheradio。Shesaidshehadstartedtoplayinchurchwheresheandhergraowalkovertwomiles，andthatshehadthenplayedinschool，hadwonmanyawardsandamusicscholarship。ShehadmarriedanattorneyinMemphisandhehadbrandpiano。
&hieredmymind。“Look，Elise，”Iasked，“MayIaskyouwhatkindofwoodisyourfirstpiaherayou？”
“It’sredmahogany，”shesaid，“Why？”
I’tspeak。
Didsheuhesigheredmahogany？Theunbelievableaudacityrainganypianowhennooneinhisrightmindwouldhavesoldherapianoofanykind？Ithinknot。
Aheoldladyuhemarvelousaentofthatbeautiful，terriblyunderprivilegedthefeedsao，I’msureshedidhateither。ButIdid，andmythroattightened。
Finally，Ifoundmyvoice。“Ijustwondered，”Isaid。“I’mproudofyou，butIhavetogotomyroom。”AndIdidhavetogotomyroom，bedoobeseenpublic。