Зима тревоги нашей

           Vacationplanningtriumphsovermemoryandall’srightwiththeworld.

           NewBaytownhadsleptforalongtime.Themenwhogovernedit,politically,morally,economically,hadsolongcontinuedthattheirwayswereset.TheTownManager,thecouncil,thejudges,thepolicewereeternal.TheTownManagersoldequipmenttothetownship,andthejudgesfixedtrafficticketsastheyhadforsolongthattheydidnotrememberitasillegalpractice—atleastthebookssaiditwas.Beingnormalmen,theysurelydidnotconsideritimmoral.Allmenaremoral.Onlytheirneighborsarenot.

           Theyellowafternoonhadthewarmbreathofsummer.Afewearlyseasonpeople,thosewithoutchildrentoholdthemglueduntilschoolwasout,weremovinginthestreets,strangers.Somecarscamethrough,towingsmallboatsandbigoutboardmotorsontrailers.Ethanwouldhaveknownwithhiseyesclosedthattheyweresummerpeoplebywhattheybought—coldcutsandprocesscheese,crackersandtinnedsardines.

           JoeyMorphycameinforhisafternoonrefreshmentashedideverydaynowthattheweatherwaswarming.Hewavedthebottletowardthecoldcounter."Youshouldputinasodafountain,"hesaid.

           "Andgrowfournewarms,orsplitintotwoclerkslikeapseudopod?Youforget,neighborJoey,Idon’townthestore."

           "Youshould."

           "MustItellyoumysadstoryofthedeathofkings?"

           "Iknowyourstory.Youdidn’tknowyourasparagusfromaholeinthedouble-entrybookkeeping.Youhadtolearnthehardway.Nowwait—butyoulearned."