This dress will soon be totally out of fashionnot even next year, but next month. And then Erika goes and buys a dress, of all things! Something more fleeting than a dab of mayonnaise on a sardine sandwich. Mother wants to save now in order to enjoy someday. And she always wants to know where she can reach the child in an emergency, in case Mama is about to have a heart attack. Mother wants everything 'someday.' She wants nothing right nowexcept the child. All you've got now is a rag, and it'll soon be out of fashion. Mother screams: You've squandered your future! We could have had a new apartment someday, but you couldn't wait. Erika should put this dress on whenever they wonder where the nice money went.

Went on an outing, a sum was withdrawn, and the result can now be seen. The dress could have been visible at any time as an entry in the bank bookif you didn't mind going to the linen closet, where the bank book peeks out from behind a pile of sheets. The money was earmarked for their savings account. Now it lies there, a droopy rag, pierced by Mother's glare. The dress, pierced by a hook, was so seductive at the shop, so soft and colorful. Four volumes of Beethoven sonatas indignantly share cramped quarters with an obviously brand-new dress. Her briefcase, filled with musical scores, is wrenched from her handsand Mother instantly finds the bitter answer to all questions. By the count of two, Erika offers an answer that deviates sharply from the truth. But Mother never believes her because Erika tends to lie. A child should own up to her mother without being asked. You must think I won't find out where you've been, Erika. She investigates: Why has Erika come home so late? Erika dismissed her last student three hours ago, after heaping him with scorn. She puts Erika against the wall, under interrogationinquisitor and executioner in one, unanimously recognized as Mother by the State and by the Family. But her mother looms before her, confronts her. Now she bursts into the apartment like a swarm of autumn leaves, hoping to get to her room without being seen. Eventually, Erika learned how to move swiftly. Her father promptly left, passing the torch to his daughter. The baby was born after long and difficult years of marriage. Her mother is old enough to be her grandmother. Mama likes calling Erika her little whirlwind, for the child can be an absolute speed demon. Part1 The piano teacher, Erika Kohut, bursts like a whirlwind into the apartment she shares with her mother. THE PIANO TEACHER by ELFRIEDE JELINEK Translated by Joachim Neugroschel

The piano teacher book jelinek