Зима тревоги нашей

           "Well,ifyouputquotationmarksarounditandafootnotetellingwhowroteit,itcouldadddignityandauthority.IguesshalfthewritinginAmericaisquotationsifitisn’tanthologies.Nowdoyoulikemytie?"

           "S’poseyoudidn’tputthosemarks...."

           "Thenitwouldbestealinglikeanyotherkindofstealing.Youdidn’tdothat,didyou?"

           "No."

           "Thenwhatisyourproblem?"

           "Couldtheyputyouinjail?"

           "Might—ifyougotmoneyforit.Don’tdoit,mygirl.Nowwhatdoyouthinkaboutmytie?"

           "Iguessyou’rejustimpossible,"shesaid.

           "Ifyouplantojointheothers,youmighttellyourblinkingbrotherthatIbroughthimhisbleedingMickeyMousemaskandshameonhim."

           "Youneverlisten,reallylisten."

           "Idotoo."

           "No,youdon’t.You’llbesorry."

           "Good-by,Leda.Sayhellototheswan."

           Sheloungedaway,ababy-fattedvolupt.Girlskillme.Theyturnouttobegirls.

           MyMarywasjustbeautiful,justbeautifulandshining.Alightfrominsideheroozedoutofherpores.ShetookmyarmaswewalkeddownElmStreetunderthearchingtreeswiththestreetlightsplayingonusandIswearourlegsmovedwiththeproudandtenderstepsofthoroughbredscomingtothebarrier.

           "YoumustcometoRome!Egyptisn’tbigenoughforyou.Thegreatworldcalls."

           Shegiggled.Iswearshegiggledaswouldhavedonehonortoourdaughter.

           "We’regoingtogooutmoreoften,mydarling."

           "When?"

           "Whenwearerich."

           "Whenisthat?"

           "Soon.I’mgoingtoteachyoutowearshoes."