FRIDAY. LYLA MARKS’S HOUSE; 7:02 A.M. The newspaper is open to the Arts page, and Lyla’s face is smiling in the featured photo. Young cellist Lyla Marks is among the four talented string players chosen for solo concerts in the Kennedy Center’s Young Strings program. “Good morning, Star!” Her dad brings two glasses of orange juice to the table. Lyla’s stomach sinks. Her dad looks at the newspaper over her shoulder. “I’m so glad we did that photo shoot. Didn’t it turn out great?” Lyla nods. She manages to smile and eat her breakfast, listening to her father go on and on about what this will mean, how he’ll call Coles and let them know, how they’ll be certain to want to schedule an audition. Later, when she gets into Annie’s car, Mrs. Win smiles nervously and congratulates her, and Annie doesn’t say a word. As soon as they arrive at school and get out of the car, Annie erupts. “Why didn’t you tell me you made it? You must have been perfect. Were you perfect?”
