Зима тревоги нашей

           "Howdoyoufigureit?"

           "Godknows.IthinkI’vebeenMr.Know-It-AlltoyousomuchIgottobelieveit.Butitsureshookmeup."

           "Youknow,Morph,I’mtootiredeventosweepout."

           "Don’tleavethatdoughheretonight.Takeithome."

           "Okay,ifyousayso."

           "Istillgotthefeelingsomething’sscrewy."

           Iopenedtheleatherboxandputthemoneysackinwithmyplumedhatandstrappeditclosed.Joey,watchingme,said,"I’mgoingintoNewYorkandgetaroomatahotelandI’mgoingtowatchthewaterfallacrossTimesSquarefortwosoliddayswithmyshoesoff."

           "Withyourdate?"

           "Icalledthatoff.I’llorderupabottleofwhiskyandadame.Don’thavetotalktoeitherofthem."

           "Itoldyou—maybewe’regoingonalittletrip."

           "Hopeso.Youneedit.Readytogo?"

           "Coupleofthingstodo.Yougoon,Joey.Getyourshoesoff."

           FirstthingtodowastocallMaryandtellherIhadtobealittlelate.

           "Yes,buthurry,hurry,hurry.News,news,news."

           "Can’tyoutellmenow,sweetheart?"

           "No.Iwanttoseeyourface."

           IhungtheMickeyMousemaskonthecashregisterbyitsrubberbandsothatitcoveredthelittlewindowwherethenumbersshow.ThenIputonmycoatandhatandturnedoutthelightsandsatonthecounterwithmylegsdangling.Anakedblackbananastalknudgedmeononesideandthecashregisterfittedagainstmyleftshoulderlikeabookend.