You're only the third person to know. Do you understand now why I hesitated to tell you? I argued back and forth with myself even though I completely ...trust you. If Jack hadn't discovered it in the first place, I wouldn't have told anyone." Not even me?" I'm sure I would have realized eventually that I had to. It was inevitable. As for what it all means, I'm not really sure. Jack and I have been referring to it as a gift, and that's how I've been treating it. I had a subconscious fear of losing. "Mum insisted I learn."We ate silently for a while. Once the edge was off my hunger, I ventured, "I think we know each other well enough that you could use my Christian name." She didn't respond, and when I looked her head was down. "Tania?" I ... that's..." she lifted her head and she was blushing. "I can't ... I mean ... Oh..." It's okay, Tania – you don't have to. It's just that I thought we were getting to be friends."The blush darkened. "Thank you." It was barely more than a whisper. There. I need to get back and into my genie costume. Play well." Break a leg," Mickey said as the lights dimmed a bit more.I looked at the music stand to see it light up. Music appeared. I brought my flute to my lips to see Cleo mentally marking off the beats. When I was ready she counted out four bars and started playing.Cleo's part was very soft. I found that my flute was carrying the melody. As we reached the end of the first verse I realized that the song was "Fly Me To the Moon." Mickey appeared. Bill dropped three then left me an awkward cut, which again I got lucky with. Perhaps it was the fact I only drink tonic, ice and lemon - no gin! Perhaps not. Bill now looked worried for the first time. Now time for a little gamesmanship.“Tell you what Bill, I got a bit lucky last time - you break.”He couldn’t refuse the offer, even though it didn’t really look good to the now fascinated bar.From just behind my left ear Jack sniggered, “Christ, you bastard! Hope he doesn’t get lucky!”I muttered.
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