Зима тревоги нашей

           "You’reagoodkid,"hesaidandheshookmyhandandwanderedaway,outofthestore.

           OnanimpulseIcalledafterhim,"Howdoesyourarmfeel?"

           Heturnedwithalookofastonishment."Itdon’thurtnomore,"hesaid.Andhewentonandrepeatedthewordstohimself,"Itdon’thurtnomore."

           Hecamebackexcitedly."Yougottotakethatdough."

           "Whatdough?"

           "Thatfivepercent."

           "Why?"

           "Yougottotakeit.Youcanbuyinwithmealittleandalittle,onlyholdoutforsixpercent."

           "No."

           "Whatyoumeanno,ifIsayyes?"

           "Iwon’tneedit,Alfio.I’dtakeitifIneededto,butIdon’tneedit."

           Hesigheddeeply.

           Theafternoonwasn’tasbusyasthemorning,butitwasn’tlighteither.There’salwaysaslacktimebetweenthreeandfour—usuallytwentyminutestohalfanhour,Idon’tknowwhy.Thenitpicksupagain,butthat’speoplegoinghomefromworkandwiveswhompingupalast-ditchdinner.

           IntheslackperiodMr.Bakercamein.Hewaited,regardingthecheeseandsausageinthecoldchamber,untilthestorewasclearoftwocustomers,bothsloppyshoppers,thekindwhodon’tknowwhattheywant,thekindwhopickupandputdown,hopingthatsomethingwilljumpintotheirarmsanddemandtobebought.

           Atlasttheshopperswerefinishedandgone.

           "Ethan,"hesaid,"didyouknowMarydrewoutathousanddollars?"

           "Yes,sir.Shetoldmeshewasgoingto."

           "Doyouknowwhatshewantsitfor?"

           "Sure,sir.She’sbeentalkingaboutitformonths.Youknowhowwomenare.