Зима тревоги нашей

           "WantacolddrinkwhileIdrawthecoverletsovermydarlings?"

           "Idon’tmind.Gotsomecoldbeer?"

           "Totakeoutonly."

           "I’lltakeitout.Justopenthecan."

           Ipunchedtwotriangularholesinthetinandheupendedit,openedhisthroat,anddraineditintohim."Ah!"hesaidandsetthecanonthecounter.

           "We’regoingonatrip."

           "Youpoordevil.Where?"

           "Idon’tknow.Wehaven’tfoughtoverthatyet."

           "Something’sgoingon.Doyouknowwhatitis?"

           "Givemeaclue."

           "Ican’t.Ijustfeelit.Haironthebackofmyneckkindofitches.That’sasuresign.Everybody’salittleoutofsynch."

           "Maybeyoujustimagineit."

           "Maybe.ButMr.Bakerdoesn’ttakeholidays.Hewasinonehellofahurrytogetoutoftown."

           Ilaughed."Haveyoucheckedthebooks?"

           "Knowsomething?Idid."

           "You’rekidding."

           "OnceIknewapostmaster,littletown.Hadapunkkidworkingthere,nameofRalph—palehair,glasses,littletinychin,adenoidsbigasgoiters.Ralphgottaggedforstealingstamps—lotsofstamps,likemaybeeighteenhundreddollars’worth.Couldn’tdoathing.Hewasapunk."

           "Youmeanhedidn’ttakethem?"

           "Ifhedidn’titwasjustthesameasifhedid.I’mjumpy.I’mnevergoingtogettaggedifIcanhelpit."

           "Isthatwhyyounevermarried?"

           "Cometothinkofit,byGod,that’soneofthereasons."

           Ifoldedmyapronandputitinthedrawerunderthecashregister."Takestoomuchtimeandefforttobesuspicious,Joey.