Зима тревоги нашей

           "Well,Iwouldn’twanttounderstandit."

           "NowondertheycallyoutheVixenofWallStreet.Thatice-cold,diamond-sharpbusinessmind—it’sfrightening."

           "We’regoingonatrip,"shesaid."We’regoingonatripfortwodays."

           Andhowthehellcouldamannotloveher,notadoreher?"WhoisMary—whatisshe?"Isangandcollectedtheemptymilkbottlesandwenttowork.

           IfelttheneedtocatchupwithJoey,justtogetthefeelofhim,butImusthavebeenamomentlateorheamomentearly.HewasenteringthecoffeeshopwhenIturnedintotheHighStreet.Ifollowedhiminandtookthestoolbesidehim."Yougotmeintothishabit,Joey."

           "Hi,Mr.Hawley.It’sprettygoodcoffee."

           Igreetedmyoldschoolgirlfriend."Morning,Annie."

           "Yougoingtobearegular,Eth?"

           "Lookslike.Onecuppaandblack."

           "Blackitis."

           "Blackastheeyeofdespair."

           "What?"

           "Black."

           "Youseeanywhiteinthat,Eth,I’llgiveyouanother."

           "Howarethings,Morph?"

           "Justthesame,onlyworse."

           "Wanttotradejobs?"

           "Iwould,justbeforealongweekend."

           "You’renottheonlyonewithproblems.Peoplestockuponfoodtoo."

           "Iguesstheydo.Ihadn’tthoughtofthat."

           "Picnicstuff,pickles,sausages,and,Godhelpus,marshmallows.Thisabigoneforyou?"

           "WiththeFourthonMondayandniceweather,youkidding?Andwhatmakesitworse,GodAlmightyfeelstheneedofrestandrecreationinthemountains."

           "Mr.Baker?"

           "NotJamesG.Blaine."

           "Iwanttoseehim.