Зима тревоги нашей

           Hewalkedabout,lookingstrangelyattheshelves,thecashregister,thecoldcounter,andhewalkedbacktothestoreroomandlookedabout.Youwouldhavethoughtfromhisexpressionthathewasseeingitforthefirsttime.

           Isaid,"GoingtotakeatripovertheFourth?"

           "Whydoyousaythat?"

           "Well,everybodydoeswhocanaffordit."

           "Oh!WherewouldIgo?"

           "Where’sanybodygo?Catskills,evenouttoMontaukandfish.Schooltunarunning."

           Theverythoughtoffightingathirty-poundplungingfishdrovearthriticpainsuphisarmssothatheflexedthemandwinced.

           IverynearlyaskedhimwhenheplannedtogotoItaly,butthatseemedtoomuch.Instead,Imovedovertohimandtookhimgentlybyhisrightelbow."Alfio,"Isaid,"Ithinkyou’renuts.Whydon’tyougointoNewYorktothebestspecialist?Theremustbesomethingtostopthatpain."

           "Idon’tbelieveit."

           "Whathaveyougottolose?Goahead.Tryit."

           "Whatdoyoucare?"

           "Idon’t.ButI’veworkedherealongtimeforastupidsonofabitchdago.Ifayellowdoghurtthatmuch,I’dgettofeelingitmyself.Youcomeinhereandmoveyourarmsandit’shalfanhourbeforeIcanstraightenup."

           "Youlikeme?"

           "Hell,no.I’mbutteringyouupforaraise."

           Helookedatmewithhound’seyes,rimmedwithred,anddarkbrownirisandpupilallonepiece.Heseemedabouttosaysomethingbutchangedhismindaboutit."You’reagoodkid,"hesaid.

           "Don’tdependonit."