Зима тревоги нашей

           Herchinwasfragileanddeep-cutbuttherewasplentyofmuscleinthecheeksandverywidecheekbones.Margie’seyeshadhadcare.Theywerethathazeltobluetosteelcolorthatchangeswiththelight.Itwasadurablefacethathadtakenitandcouldtakeit,evenviolence,evenpunching.Hereyesflickedabout,tome,tothegroceries,andbacktome.Iimaginedshewasaverycloseobserverandagoodrememberertoo.

           "Ihopeyoudon’thavethesameproblemasyesterday."

           Shelaughed."No—no.Idon’tgetadrummereveryday.ThistimeIreallyranoutofcoffee."

           "Mostpeopledo."

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Well,thefirsttenpeopleeverymorningranoutofcoffee."

           "Isthattrue?"

           "Sure.Say,Iwanttothankyouforsendingyourdrummerin."

           "Itwashisidea."

           "Butyoudidit.Whatkindofcoffee?"

           "Doesn’tmatter.ImakelousycoffeenomatterwhatkindIget."

           "Doyoumeasure?"

           "Sure,andit’sstilllousy.Coffeejustisn’t—Inearlysaid‘mycupoftea.’"

           "Youdidsayit.Trythisblend."Ipickedacanfromtheshelfandasshereachedtotakeitfromme—justthatlittlegesture—everypartofherbodymoved,shifted,announceditselfquietly.I’mhere,theleg.Me,thethigh.Notbetterthanme,thesoftbelly.Everythingwasnew,newlyseen.Icaughtmybreath.Marysaysawomancanputoutsignalsornot,justasshewishes.Andifthat’sso,Margiehadacommunicationssystemthatranfromherpointedpatent-leathertoetohercurvingsoftchestnuthair.