You don’t owe the hallway an explanation.”

The next afternoon, his music teacher, Mrs.

Carver, asked whether he wanted to join a small after-school guitar group.

Noah had played at the winter concert the year before.

She knew what the instrument meant to him, though she had learned about the sale only after rumors reached the faculty lounge.

“I don’t know if I want to play,” he told her.

“You don’t have to perform,” she replied.