More people were gathering around them now. Maya could hear phones making picture sounds. Someone was definitely recording this conversation. Maya wished she could disappear.
"But I really can play," Maya said, her voice getting smaller. "I practice every day at the community center."
"The community center?" Victor repeated, and several people in the crowd laughed. "My dear, I studied at the most expensive music schools in Europe. I have performed with the greatest orchestras in the world. I have won international competitions. And you think you can learn to play classical music on some old, broken piano at a community center?"
Victor turned to face the crowd that had gathered. Maya realized that he was enjoying having an audience for this conversation. He was showing off in front of all these people.
"This is exactly what is wrong with people today," Victor announced to the crowd. "Everyone thinks they can be a professional musician just because they can play a few notes. Real classical music requires discipline, proper education, and natural talent that most people simply do not have."
Victor turned back to Maya. "I am sure you are a very nice girl," he said in a voice that was supposed to sound kind, but was actually very mean. "But you need to be realistic about your limitations. Blind people can do many wonderful things. You could learn to give massages or answer phones at an office or maybe teach music to little children. But professional classical piano? That is just not possible for someone like you."
Maya felt like she was going to cry, but she did not want to give Victor the satisfaction of seeing her tears. Sam put his arm around her shoulders. He was getting angry, too, but he did not know what to say to such a famous and powerful person.
"You should encourage your sister to find a more suitable hobby," Victor said to Sam. "It is cruel to let her believe she could ever perform on a stage like this. She will only be disappointed when she learns the truth."
The crowd was getting bigger now. Maya could hear people talking quietly to each other. Some of them sounded like they agreed with Victor. Others sounded uncomfortable with how mean he was being.
Victor looked around at all the people watching. He seemed very pleased with himself. "I have been playing piano for 30 years," he announced. "I can tell you that classical music is one of the most demanding art forms in the world. It is not something you can learn by playing around on old pianos. It requires perfect vision, perfect hearing, perfect finger technique, and years of study with master teachers."
Maya wanted to run away, but her legs felt too weak to move. This was supposed to be one of the happiest nights of her life. She had finally heard live classical music in a real concert hall. But now this famous pianist was telling her that her biggest dream was stupid and impossible.