Зима тревоги нашей

           Butyouknowhowtheyare."

           "Yes,I’mbeginningtolearnhowtheyare."

           "Areyouinabadtemper?Didyouhaveahardday?"

           "Let’ssee.No,Iguessnot.I’vebeenonmyfeetallday.Thethoughtofpushingthelawnmowerdoesn’tmakemejumpwithjoy."

           "Weshouldhaveapowermower.TheJohnsonshaveoneyoucanrideon."

           "Weshouldhaveagardenerandagardener’sboy.Mygrandfatherdid.Rideon?Allenmightcutthelawnifhecouldride."

           "Don’tbemeantohim.He’sonlyfourteen.They’realllikethat."

           "Whodoyousupposeestablishedthefallacythatchildrenarecute?"

           "Youareinabadtemper."

           "Let’ssee.Yes,IguessIam.Andthatsquallingisdrivingmecrazy."

           "He’spracticing."

           "Soyousaid."

           "Nowdon’ttakeyourbadtemperoutonhim."

           "Allright,butitwouldhelpifIcould."Ethanpushedthroughthelivingroom,whereAllenwassquawkingvaguelyrecognizablewordsfromavibratingreedheldonhistongue."Whatintheworldisthat?"

           Allenspatitintohispalm."FromthatboxofPeeks.It’sventriloquism."

           "DidyoueatthePeeks?"

           "No.Idon’tlikeit.I’vegottopractice,Dad."

           "Holdupamoment."Ethansatdown."Whatdoyouplantodowithyourlife?"

           "Huh?"

           "Thefuture.Haven’ttheytoldyouinschool?Thefutureisinyourhands."

           Ellenslitheredintotheroomanddrapedherselfonthecouchlikeaknob-kneedcat.Sherippledoutasteel-cuttinggiggle.

           "Hewantstogoontelevision,"shesaid."