One thing had influenced her above everything. When her parents received the invitation to join the staff at the Aspen Music School, the first thought of her mother and father had been not of the wonderful opportunity for themselves. No, over and over they had repeated, “At last Judy can spend a whole summer with us.”
But in the weeks that followed they had become more and more immersed in their preparations, selecting music for the Quartet, conferring with the Dean of the Aspen School and as their excitement mounted, Judy felt hers diminish. She felt she didn’t belong in her parents’ world. They didn’t need her.
She walked to the window and stared ahead of her.... The summers of the past took on an even rosier hue. The swims, the companionship of cousins rarely seen, the homey loving household of which she was so much a part. And the long summer evenings.... She saw herself again on the screened porch of the Beach House. A few young neighbors, whom her grandfather called his steady customers, were sitting near her. Her grandfather was reading “Hamlet.” How tender his voice as he spoke the lines of Ophelia. The moths beat their wings against the lamp, a soft droning accompaniment. With hands cupped over his mouth he made the trumpet sound. The King and Queen! The Duel scene... you could almost hear the clash of rapiers.... Hamlet was dying ... Laertes ... the Queen! What made Grandma leave the room at such a moment! But she returned almost at once carrying a tray of ice-cream covered with oozing red, red strawberries. And Grandfather, outraged at the sight, with an imperious gesture, waved her aside, declaiming as if it were part of the play, “Can’t you wait until they all decently die?” Judy smiled at the remembrance.
She loved her parents. She didn’t want to hurt them, but at this moment she felt she must speak up before it was too late. She heard her father saying jovially, “Well, have the locusts finally gone?”
Judy parted the draperies and peered through the opening.
“Thank goodness, they’re all gone.”
She took a deep breath and strode into the room.
“Father,” she stopped and gulped. “You and mother are going to be so busy at Aspen. What will I do there? I don’t know anyone. I haven’t any friends there.”
Her father looked startled but said nothing.
“Why it’s childish to feel that way,” her mother answered easily. “There are loads of young people at the Aspen Music School. You’ll meet them.”