Two girls and their mothers arrive almost together at the music house.
The first girl has wild black hair, long black shorts and a long black t-shirt scored with red. She hands a book to her mother and does this sassy walk to the hand rails, where she swings herself up onto the ramp. As she doubles back, the music in her step seems louder still. She leans down for the book and goes inside.
The second girl has neat brown hair, a yellow top and a prim, pleated skirt. She leaves her mother near the first and climbs sensibly through the hand rails, her book clutched firmly under one arm. She strides past her mother without a glance, then sweeps in through the door without acknowledging the other girl, who is holding it open for her.
The door swings shut.
The mothers leave in different directions. They haven’t spoken.