第33章罗比的钢琴课RobbysPianoLessons（2）
Well，RobbybeganwithhispianolessonsandfromthebeginningIthoughtitelessendeavor。AsmuchasRobbytried，helackedtheseoneandbasieededtoexcel。ButhedutifullyreviewedhissdsomeelemeIrequireallmystudentstolearhshetriedandtriedwhileIlistenedariedtehim。Attheendofeachweeklylessonhe’dalwayssay，“mymom’sgoingtohearmeplaysomeday”。Butitseemedhopeless。Hejustdidnothaveanyinbornability。IoherfromadistanceasshedroppedRobbyofforwaitediopickhimup。Shealwayswavedaoppedin。
ThenonedayRobbystoppedingtoourlessons。Ithoughtaboutghimbutassumed，becauseofhislackofability，thathehaddecidedtopursuesomethingelse。Ialsowasgladthathestoppeding。Hewasabadadvertisementformyteag！
SeveralweekslaterImailedtothestudent’shomesaflyerontheupiomysurpriseRobby（whoreceivedaflyer）askedmeifhecouldbeioldhimthattherecitalwasfortpupilsandbecausehehaddroppedouthereallydidnotqualify。Hesaidthathismomhadbeensiabletotakehimtopiaherag。“MissHotoplay！”heinsisted。
Idon’tknowwhatledmetoallowhimtoplayial。Maybeitersistenaybeitwassomethinginsideofmesayingthatitwouldbeallright。Thenightfortherecitalcame。Thehighsnasiumackedwithparents，frieives。IputRobbyuplastintheprogrambeforeIwastoeupandthasandplayafinishihoughtthatanydamagehewoulddowouldeattheendramandIcouldaloorperformahroughmy“closer”。
&heretoffwithoutahitch。Thestudeiditshowed。ThenRobbystage。Hisclotheswerewrinkledandhishairlookedlikehe’druerthroughit。“Whydidn’thedressupliketheotherstudents？”Ithought。“Whydidn’thismotheratleastmakehimbhishairforthisspeight？”
Robbypulledoutthepianobendhebegan。Irisedwhenheahehadozart’scerto#21inCMajor。
IreparedforwhatIheard。Hisfioheyevendanimblyontheivories。Hewentfrompianissimotofortissimrotovirtuoso。HissuspendedchordsthatMozartdemandsweremag！
NeverhadIheardMozartplayedsowellbypeoplehisage。Aftersixandahalfminutesheendedinagranddoandeveryoheirfeetin>
OvereandintearsIranupomyarmsaroundRobbyinjoy。“I’veneverheardyouplaylikethatRobby！How’dyoudhthemieRobbyexplained：“WellMissHooldyoumymomwassick？Wellactuallyshehaddpassedawaythism。Andwell…shewasboronightwasthefirsttimesheeverheardmeplay。Iwaomakeitspecial。”
&adryeyeihatevening。AsthepeoplefromSocialServithestagetobeplatofosteroticedthateventheireyesuffyandIthoughttomyselfhowmuchrichermylifehadbeenfRobbyasmypupil。
No，I’veneverhadaprotegebutthatnightIbecameaprotege…ofRobby’s。HewastheteadIilforitishethattaughtmethemeaningofperseverandloveandbelievinginyourselfaakingasomeoneandyoudon’tknowwhy。
ThisisespeciallymeaningfultomesierserviormRobbywaskilledinthesenselessbombingoftheAlfredP。MurrahFederalBuildinginOklahomaAprilof1995，whereheortedly…playingthepiano。