Зима тревоги нашей

           "Butyou’llhint."

           "Ethan,Iwillnot."

           "Doyouknowwhatyouare?Adearlittlebabyrabbitwithflowersonyourhead."

           "Youhelpyourselfinthekitchen.I’mgoingtofreshenup."

           Whenshewasgone,IsprawledoutinmychairandIheardinmysecretears,"Lord,nowlettestThouThyservantde-partinpee-ace,accordingtoThyword."AnddarnedifIdidn’tgotosleep.Droppedoffacliffintothedark,rightthereinthelivingroom.Idon’tdothatoften.AndbecauseIhadbeenthinkingofDannyTaylor,IdreamedofDannyTaylor.Wewerenotsmallorgreatbutgrown,andwewereattheflatdrylake-bottomwiththeoldhousefoundationsandcellarhole.Anditwasearlysummer,forIremarkedthefatnessoftheleavesandthegrasssoheavythatitbentofitsweight,thekindofdaythatmakesyoufeelfatandcrazytoo.Dannywentbehindayoungjuniperstraightandslenderasacolumn.Iheardhisvoice,distortedandthicklikewordsspokenunderwater.ThenIwaswithhimandhewasmeltingandrunningdownoverhisframe.WithmypalmsItriedtosmoothhimupward,backinplace,thewayyoutrytosmoothwetcementwhenitrunsoutoftheform,butIcouldn’t.Hisessenceranbetweenmyfingers.Theysayadreamisamoment.ThisonewentonandonandthemoreItried,themorehemelted.

           WhenMaryawakenedmeIwaspantingwitheffort.

           "Springfever,"shesaid."That’sthefirstsign.WhenIwasagrowinggirl,IsleptsomuchmymothersentforDoctorGrady.