"As I looked at the keyboard of the piano, my mind tried to empty itself; it tried to pour all my thoughts down a chute of some kind. I could feel them sliding away. Like a big balloon deflating, like a tank of something emptying. I felt my eyes bug out with the shock of it, Lines 1 through 8 contribute to the reader’s understanding of the story by
A. Allowing the reader to immediately understand Allegra’s state of mind
B. Sharing with the reader the frustration Allegra feels before the performance
C. Emphasizing how important it is for Allegra to empty her mind of all thoughts
D. Suggesting that Allegra’s surroundings are less important than her feeling