Chapter 11

           In1920RoscoeButton’sfirstchildwasborn.Duringtheattendantfestivities,however,noonethoughtit"thething"tomention,thatthelittlegrubbyboy,apparentlyabouttenyearsofagewhoplayedaroundthehousewithleadsoldiersandaminiaturecircus,wasthenewbaby’sowngrandfather.

           Noonedislikedthelittleboywhosefresh,cheerfulfacewascrossedwithjustahintofsadness,buttoRoscoeButtonhispresencewasasourceoftorment.IntheidiomofhisgenerationRoscoedidnotconsiderthematter"efficient."Itseemedtohimthathisfather,inrefusingtolooksixty,hadnotbehavedlikea"red-bloodedhe-man"—thiswasRoscoe’sfavouriteexpression—butinacuriousandperversemanner.Indeed,tothinkaboutthematterforasmuchasahalfanhourdrovehimtotheedgeofinsanity.Roscoebelievedthat"livewires"shouldkeepyoung,butcarryingitoutonsuchascalewas—was—wasinefficient.AndthereRoscoerested.

           FiveyearslaterRoscoe’slittleboyhadgrownoldenoughtoplaychildishgameswithlittleBenjaminunderthesupervisionofthesamenurse.Roscoetookthembothtokindergartenonthesameday,andBenjaminfoundthatplayingwithlittlestripsofcolouredpaper,makingmatsandchainsandcuriousandbeautifuldesigns,wasthemostfascinatinggameintheworld.Oncehewasbadandhadtostandinthecorner—thenhecried—butforthemostpartthereweregayhoursinthecheerfulroom,withthesunlightcominginthewindowsandMissBailey’skindhandrestingforamomentnowandtheninhistousledhair.

           Roscoe’ssonmovedupintothefirstgradeafterayear,butBenjaminstayedoninthekindergarten.Hewasveryhappy.Sometimeswhenothertotstalkedaboutwhattheywoulddowhentheygrewupashadowwouldcrosshislittlefaceasifinadim,childishwayherealisedthatthosewerethingsinwhichhewasnevertoshare.