Зима тревоги нашей

           "Whatdidheask?"

           "HowlongdoIknowmyboss?Whoelseknowshim?WhendidhecometoNewBaytown?"

           "Whatdidyoutellhim?"

           "WhenIjoineduptofightthefoe,Ididn’tknowhim.WhenIcamebackhewashere.WhenIwentbroke,hetookoverthestoreandgavemeajob."

           "Whatdoyousupposeit’sabout?"

           "Godknows."

           Margiehadbeentryingtolookpasthiseyes.Shethought,He’spretendingtobeasimpleton.Iwonderwhattheguyreallywanted!

           Hesaiditsoquietlyitfrightenedher."Youdon’tbelieveme.Youknow,Margie,nooneeverbelievesthetruth."

           "Thewholetruth?Whenyoucarveachicken,Eth,it’sallchicken,butsomeisdarkmeatandsomewhite."

           "Iguessso.Frankly,I’mworried,Margie.Ineedthisjob.IfanythinghappenedtoAlfioI’dbepoundingthestreet."

           "Aren’tyouforgettingyou’regoingtoberich?"

           "KindofhardtorememberwhenI’mnot."

           "Ethan,Iwonderifyourememberback.ItwasinthespringrightnearEaster.IcameinandyoucalledmeDaughterofJerusalem."

           "ThatwasGoodFriday."

           "Youdoremember.Well,Ifoundit.It’sMatthew,andit’sprettywonderfuland—scary."

           "Yes."

           "Whatgotintoyou?"

           "MyGreat-AuntDeborah.Shegotmecrucifiedonceayear.Itstillgoeson."

           "You’rekidding.Youweren’tkiddingthen."

           "No,Iwasn’t.AndI’mnotnow."

           Shesaidplayfully,"Youknow,thefortuneIreadyouiscomingtrue."

           "Iknowitis."

           "Don’tyouthinkyouowemesomething?"

           "Sure."