“What did your folks say about it?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing??”

(Looks up) “What’s with the look? It’s no big deal.”

“Yes, it is! This could be the one chance for you and they have nothing to say? Don’t you think that’s a bit cold?”

“Well, you can’t blame them. They know nothing about this. I didn’t tell them.”

“You what?? Why??”

“Because I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“I just couldn’t, OK?”

“That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard in my whole life.”

“Because if I tell them they’ll only have even higher expectation of me. And when I fail, they’ll say it’s OK. That it doesn’t matter. But it DOES!! And you can hear it in their voice..!!”