Зима тревоги нашей

           We’vebeengettingalongwithourneighborsandbeingdecentallthattime.IfyouthinkyoucanbargeinfromSicilyandchangethat,you’rewrong.Ifyouwantmyjob,youcanhaveit—righthere,rightnow.Anddon’tcallmekidorI’llpunchyouinthenose—"

           AllMarullo’steethgleamednow."Okay,okay.Don’tgetmad.Ijusttrytodoyouagoodturn."

           "Don’tcallmekid.Myfamily’sbeenheretwohundredyears."Inhisownearsitsoundedchildish,andhisragepeteredout.

           "Idon’ttalkverygoodEnglish.YouthinkMarulloisguineaname,wopname,dagoname.Mygenitori,myname,ismaybetwo,threethousandyearsold.MarullusisfromRome,ValeriusMaximustellsaboutit.What’stwohundredyears?"

           "Youdon’tcomefromhere."

           "Twohundredyearsagoyoudon’tneither."

           NowEthan,hisrageallleakedaway,sawsomethingthatmakesamandoubtfuloftheconstancyoftherealitiesoutsidehimself.Hesawtheimmigrant,guinea,fruit-peddlerchangeunderhiseyes,sawthedomeofforehead,thestrongbeaknose,deep-setfierceandfearlesseyes,sawtheheadsupportedonpillaredmuscles,sawpridesodeepandsurethatitcouldplayathumility.Itwastheshockingdiscoverythatmakesamanwonder:IfI’vemissedthis,whatelsehaveIfailedtosee?

           "Youdon’thavetotalkdagotalk,"hesaidsoftly.

           "Goodbusiness.Iteachyoubusiness.Sixty-eightyearsIgot.Wifeshe’sdied.Arthritis!Ihurt.Itrytoshowyoubusiness.Maybeyoudon’tlearn.Mostpeopletheydon’tlearn.Gobroke."