Dame Wilburn

Now, you gotta understand, I don't know how many of you have ever run a four-part con, but the key to doing it is to not talk to anybody.

So I hadn't answered the phone in like four months.

Because talking to people is how you give up what?

Evidence.

Once I left that message for her, I shut off the ringer on my phone, turned the answering machine volume all the way down, and took a three-hour nap.

When I woke up, my answering machine light was blinking at me angrily.

It took everything in me to press that button.

But I played the message and this is what it said.

I will be at Siena Heights at noon on Friday.

I expect to speak with you in person.

Click.

It's not terrifying at all.

So when I told my counselor,

everything that had gone on.

I came clean to her.

She said, I think it's best that you two not meet in private.

I think you should meet in the music room, and I'm going to be in my office, and we're going to leave all the doors open.

This woman had met my mother one time, but she knew what I was up against.

And that's how I ended up clutching a music stand

staring into the eyes of the dragon.