Зима тревоги нашей

           "Couldyoutellitandthenflashbacktohowshesaidit?"

           "Ican’tbelieveit."

           "Couldyouletmetrytobelieveit?"

           "Allenhaswonhonorablemention."

           "What?Allen?Tellme!"

           "Intheessaycontest—inthewholecountry—honorablemention."

           "No!"

           "Hehas.Onlyfivehonorablementions—andawatch,andhe’sgoingontelevision.Canyoubelieveit?Acelebrityinthefamily."

           "Ican’tbelieveit.Youmeanallthatslobstuffwasasham?Whatanactor!Hislonelylovin’heartwasn’tthrowedontheflooratall."

           "Don’tmakefun.Justthink,oursonisoneoffiveboysinthewholeUnitedStatestogethonorablemention—andtelevision."

           "Andawatch!Wonderifhecantelltime."

           "Ethan,ifyoumakefun,peoplewillthinkyou’rejealousofyourownson."

           "I’mjustastonished.IthoughthisprosestylewasaboutthelevelofGeneralEisenhower’s.Allendoesn’thaveaghost-writer."

           "Iknowyou,Eth.Youmakeagameofrunningthemdown.Butit’syouwhospoilthem.It’sjustyoursecretway.Iwanttoknow—didyouhelphimwithhisessay?"

           "Helphim!Hedidn’tevenletmeseeit."

           "Well—that’sallrightthen.Ididn’twantyoulookingsmugbecauseyouwroteitforhim."

           "Ican’tgetoverit.Itgoestoshowwedon’tknowmuchaboutourownchildren.How’sEllentakingit?"

           "Why,proudasapeacock.Margiewassoexcitedshecouldhardlytalk.Thenewspaperswanttointerviewhim—andtelevision,he’sgoingtobeontelevision.