“So, Lesley.” My friend turned to stare at me with an expectant gaze. “Are you going to go?” How am I supposed to answer that question? What if nobody will end up going? What if I end up alone? I’d be sitting in a corner and twiddling my thumbs, waiting for it to be over. What if—“I’ll go if you go,” I finally said. She sighed, and it occurred to me that maybe this scenario was a common occurrence. I was constantly afraid that my response would be wrong, I would embarrass myself, or that I would be left without a backup plan. I realized that I was not a risk-taker; going out of my comfort-zone was a huge faux pas. On page 189 of The Skating Party, when Uncle Nathan reflects back on his decision to disassemble the stone man, he says “I think