"I accept your challenge and look forward to reveling in your defeat," the cocky boy says. Autor stands immediately, gripping the table when he sways. He hobbles to the piano, cursing his sprained ankle, and seats himself with aplomb, straightening his uniform.

The attempt... Well, it's a good attempt, with plenty of passion. Unfortunately, he's playing the Fantasie Impromptu, one of the more difficult pieces, and his fingers are inexplicably clumsy. Notes bounce all over the place, discordant and painful to listen to. He quits in the middle of the song, reduced to plinking a couple of keys like a one-fingered typist.

"Hey, Rae?" he asks, sounding surprised. "I don't think I can get back to the table."