I could put any personal feelings for Michael behind me. Every girl at school envied me. I was better off the way things were. Any girl who didn’t have Silly Putty in place of brains could understand that. But some feelings just don’t die easily. I found that out the hard way when I least expected it. My first evening back at the club after being ill wasn’t an easy one. First, Mom didn’t want me to go; then Dad came home from work and heard about it. He was furious. I told him it was the last time I would perform with the band, but I needed more time to tell them. He was totally unsympathetic. Anyway, I explained to my parents that I was feeling a lot better. I don’t think they believed me. I’m not sure I believed it myself. I was still tired and not at full strength. But I was determined to perform. Mom pressed my cell phone into my hand in case I needed to call for an early ride home. Jimmy provided door-to-door limo service and I bundled up against the cold just like I promised Mom.
