Зима тревоги нашей

           "That’swhereI’llbe,comeshift."

           Iwentonwithoutremindinghimthat’swherehe’dbeen.

           Iwalkedquietlyupmybackstepsandswitchedonthekitchenlight.Mynotewasonthetablealittleleftofcenter.I’dswearIleftitrightinthemiddle.

           Iputthecoffeeonandsatwaitingforittoperk,andithadjustbeguntobouncewhenMarycamedown.Mydarlinglookslikealittlegirlwhensheawakens.Youcouldn’tthinksheisthemotheroftwobigbrats.Andherskinhasalovelysmell,likenew-cutgrass,themostcozyandcomfortingodorIknow.

           "Whatareyoudoingupsoearly?"

           "Wellmayyouask.PleasetoknowIhavebeenupmostofthenight.Regardmygaloshestherebythedoor.Feelthemforwetness."

           "Wheredidyougo?"

           "Downbytheseathereisalittlecave,myrumpledduck.IcrawledinsideandIstudiedthenight."

           "Nowwait."

           "AndIsawastarcomeoutofthesea,andsinceithadnoownerItookitforourstar.Itameditandturneditbacktofatten."

           "You’rebeingsilly.Ithinkyoujustgotupandthatwokeme."

           "Ifyoudon’tbelieveme,askWeeWillie.Ispoketohim.AskDannyTaylor.Igavehimadollar."

           "Youshouldn’t.He’lljustgetdrunk."

           "Iknow.Thatwashiswish.Wherecanourstarsleep,sweetfern?"

           "Doesn’tcoffeesmellgood?I’mgladyou’resillyagain.It’sawfulwhenyou’regloomy.I’msorryaboutthatfortunething.Idon’twantyoutothinkI’mnothappy."

           "Don’tgiveitaworry,it’sinthecards."

           "What?"

           "Nojoke