Зима тревоги нашей

           Hestareddownathishandsandlickedhislips.

           Ellen’seyeswerenarrowedandconcentrated.

           Ethanstudiedhisson."I’mgoingtomakethatpossible,"hesaid.

           "Sir?"

           "Icangetyouajobtoworkinthestorethissummer."

           "Howdoyoumean,work?"

           "Isn’tyourquestion,‘Whatdoyoumean,work?’Youwillcarryandtrimshelvesandsweepandperhaps,ifyoudowell,youcanwaitoncustomers."

           "Iwanttogotocamp."

           "Youalsowanttowinahundredthousanddollars."

           "MaybeI’llwintheessaycontest.Atleastthat’satriptoWashingtonanyway.Somekindofvacationafterallyearinschool."

           "Allen!Thereareunchangingrulesofconduct,ofcourtesy,ofhonesty,yes,evenofenergy.It’stimeItaughtyoutogivethemlipserviceatleast.You’regoingtowork."

           Theboylookedup."Youcan’t."

           "Ibegyourpardon?"

           "Childlaborlaws.Ican’tevengetaworkpermitbeforeI’msixteen.Youwantmetobreakthelaw?"

           "Doyouthinkalltheboysandgirlswhohelptheirparentsarehalfslaveandhalfcriminal?"Ethan’sangerwasasnakedandruthlessaslove.Allenlookedaway.

           "Ididn’tmeanthat,sir."

           "I’msureyoudidn’t.Andyouwon’tagain.YoustubbedyournoseontwentygenerationsofHawleysandAllens.Theywerehonorablemen.Youmaybeworthytobeonesomeday."

           "Yes,sir.MayIgotomyroom,sir?"

           "Youmay."

           Allenwalkedupthestairsslowly.

           Whenhehaddisappeared,Ellenwhirledherlegslikepropellers