Mrs. Streichman twisted into the space
next to her. "That was just a rehearsal.
The reviews are incredible. And you
wouldnтt believe the waiting list. Years.
Centuries! Iтll never have tickets again."
She took a deep, calming breath. "At least
youтre here, dear. Thatтs something I
couldnтt have expected. That makes it very
real. And," she pressed Annaтs arm, "if it
helps in any way, you must tell yourself
later thereтs nothing you could have done
to make it come out differently.
Everything that will happen has already
happened. It wonтt be changed."
"Will I get what I want?" Anna asked her.
She could not keep the brightness of hope
from her voice. Clearly, she was part of
something enormous. Something memorable.
How many people could say that?
"I donтt know what you want," Mrs.
Streichman answered. She had an uneasy
look. "I didnтt get what I wanted," she
added. "Even though I had tickets. Good
God! People getting what they want! Thatтs
not the history of the world, is it?"
"Will everyone please be quiet!" someone
behind Anna said. "Those of us in the back
canтt hear a thing."
Mrs. Streichman began to cry, which
surprised Anna very much. "Iтm such a
sap," Mrs. Streichman said apologetically.
"Things really get to me." She put her arm
around Anna.
"All I want," Anna began, but a man to her
right hushed her angrily.
"Shut up!" he said. "As if we came all
this way to listen to you."
Ўfor John Kessel
