Mr. Jones never knew Phoebe had cheated. Band tryouts happened after football season and before Christmas. A competition within the band. The grand prize was first chair, one that came with bragging rights and also played the hardest and best parts in the songs. The band director sat behind a curtain while musicians played. Why Phoebe played an instrument was another mystery. The classmates I interviewed—which was a lot—said Phoebe wasn’t the best Flutist. In fact, she was terrible. The worst. She never practiced. It would have been an impressive accomplishment if my mother won. A freshman beating a senior was big news. Huge. Mom explained why she secretly switched places with Phoebe during tryouts. “I wanted Phoebe to enjoy her senior year as first flute.” Some might say my mother was tho
