it　ourselves。”

………　Page　68………

“This　right　here？　You　did　this　yourselves？　That's　impossible。”　He's　looking　almost　mad　about

it。　“How'd　you　get　the　gear？”

My　mom　kicks　him　again；　but　Dad　turns　on　her　and　says；　“Stop　it；　would　you？　I'm　just

curious！”

Matt…or…Mike　says；　“It's　cool；　Mrs。　Loski。”　He　smiles　at　my　dad　and　says；　“We　kept　cruising

the　Inter　and　the　trades　looking　for　a　deal。

Everyone's　blowing　out　their　old　analog　gear　for　digital　because　that's　the　move　everyone

else　has　made。　Digital；　if　you　want　to　know　our　opinion；　is

weak。　You　lose　too　much　of　the　waveform。　There's　not　enough　fat　to　it；　and　obviously　we　like

it　beefy。”

My　granddad　puts　up　a　finger　and　says；　“But　a　CD's　digital；　so…”

“Exactly；　but　that　is　the　last　and　only　step　we'll　promise　on。　It's　just　a　necessity　of　being

part　of　the　industry。　Everyone　wants　CDs。　But　the

multitrack　and　the　mixdown　to　two…track　is　analog。　And　we　could　afford　it；　Mr。　Loski；　because

we　got　used　gear　and　we've　been　saving　up　our

pennies　since　we　were　twelve　years　old。”　He　grins　and　says；　“You　still　play？　We　could；　you

know；　lay　down　some　of　your　tunes　if　you　want。”

My　dad　looks　down；　and　for　a　second　I　couldn't　tell　if　he　was　going　to　get　mad　or　cry。　Then

he　sort　of　snorts　and　says；　“Thanks；　but　that's　not　me

anymore。”

Which　was　probably　the　only　honest　thing　my　dad　said　all　night。　After　that　he　was　quiet。　He'd

try　to　plaster　up　a　smile　now　and　then；　but　man；

underneath　it　he　was　broody。　And　I　was　feeling　kind　of　bad　for　him。　Was　he　thinking　about

the　good　old　days　playing　in　a　band？　I　tried　picturing　him

in　cowboy　boots　and　a　cowboy　hat；　with　a　g