Зима тревоги нашей

           "Hownot?Whogetshurt?Isitagainstthelaw?"

           "Youmeanyou’dtakeit?"

           "Takeit—I’dsitupandbegforit.Inmybusinesstheygotalltheloopholesclosed.Practicallyeverythingyoucandoinabankisagainstthelaw—unlessyou’represident.Idon’tgetyou.Whatareyouhoggle-bogglingabout?IfyouweretakingitawayfromAlfiolad,I’dsayitwasn’tquitestraight—butyou’renot.Youdothemafavor,theydoyouafavor—anicecrispgreenfavor.Don’tbecrazy.You’vegotawifeandkidstothinkof.Raisingkidsain’tgoingtogetanycheaper."

           "Iwishyou’dgoawaynow."

           JoeyMorphyputhisunemptiedbottledownhardonthecounter."Mr.Hawley—no,Mr.EthanAllenHawley,"hesaidcoldly,"ifyouthinkIwoulddoanythingdishonestorsuggestthatyoudo—whyyoucangoandscrewyourself."

           Joeystalkedtowardthestoreroom.

           "Ididn’tmeanthat.Ididn’tmeanit.HonesttoGodIdidn’t,Joey.Ijusthadacoupleofshockstodayandbesides—thisisadreadfulholiday—dreadful."

           Morphypaused."Howdoyoumean?Oh!yes,Iknow.Yes,Idoknow.YoubelieveIknow?"

           "Andeveryyear,eversinceIwasakid,onlyitgetsworsebecause—maybebecauseIknowmorewhatitmeans,Ihearthoselonely‘lamasabachthani’words."