(Written by Grace a 10-year-old who formerly lived in Taiwan but now lives in Portland, Oregon.)

          Chapter I 

          I started playing the piano two years ago.  At first, it wasn’t too bad, but very soon I decided that I didn’t really like it.

          I told my mom that I wanted to try another instrument.  I knew she hadn’t really wanted me to become an expert; she just wanted me to have something to do when I got bored.  Sometimes she’s just too tired when she comes home from work to do things with me. 

          One of the reasons I didn’t like the piano was that I’d stay up late playing it, and the next day I’d be so tired I wouldn’t even take a shower before going to school and I’d be drowsy through all my classes.

          Chapter 2

          I asked her if it would be okay to stop practicing the piano, and after thinking about it, she said I couldn’t stop, that I had to keep playing it.  My answer was a big “N-o-o-!”

          Then she changed her mind and said she’d like for me to play the cello.  So I asked my piano teacher if I’d learned enough playing the piano to start work on the cello, and she said I had.  

          Before mom mentioned the cello, I had no idea that she’d ever let me quit the piano.  I was really shocked.  I didn’t really wanted to play the cello; I just didn’t want to play the piano.  What I should have said was that I wanted to play the clarinet, but when I talked to my piano teacher about that, she said it might be too hard for me.

          So now I’m stuck with playing the cello.  I’ll try it, but don’t know how good I’ll be at it. 

          Wish me luck!