Зима тревоги нашей

           Ithoughttherainwasover,butitcameback."

           "Takemyraincoat,Mary."

           "Iwouldn’tthinkofit.It’sjustashowernow.Yougetbacktoyourcustomers."

           Thepacegotworse.Mr.Bakerlookedinandsawthelineofpeoplewaitingandwentout."I’llcomebacklater,"hecalled.

           Andstilltheycame,rightupuntilnoon,andthen,asusuallyhappens,allcustomstopped.Peoplewereeatinglunch.Thetrafficdiedoutinthestreet.Forthefirsttimeallmorningnoonewaswantingsomething.IdrankmoremilkfromthecartonIhadopened.AnythingItookfromthestoreImarkeddownandjustdeducteditfrommypay.Marulloletmehavethingswholesale.Itmakesabigdifference.Idon’tthinkwecouldhavelivedonmypayifhehadn’t.

           Heleanedbackagainstthecounterandfoldedhisarmsandthathurt,soheshovedhishandsinhispocketsuntilthathurt.

           Isaid,"I’msuregladyouhelpedout.Neversawsucharush.ButIguesstheycan’tgoonlivingonleft-overpotatosalad."

           "Youdoanicejob,kid."

           "Idoajob."

           "No,theycomeback.Theylikeyou."

           "They’rejustusedtome.I’vebeenhereforever."AndthenItriedalittletinyprobe."I’llbetyou’relookingforwardtothathotSiciliansun.ItishotinSicily.Iwasthereinthewar."

           Marullolookedaway."Idon’tmakemymindyet."

           "Whynot?"

           "Well,Ibeenawaysolongtime—fortyyears.Idon’tknownobodythere."

           "Butyouhaverelatives."

           "Theydon’tknowmeneither."