Зима тревоги нашей

           Hisshouldersmusthavebeenburningasthoughtherewerehotsandinthejoints.

           "HowlongagodidyoucomefromSicily?"

           "Forty-sevenyears.Longtime."

           "Everbeenback?"

           "No."

           "Whydon’tyougoonavisit?"

           "Whatfor?Everythingchanged."

           "Don’tyougetcuriousaboutit?"

           "Notmuch."

           "Anyrelativesalive?"

           "Sure,mybrotherandhiskidsandtheygotkids."

           "I’dthinkyou’dwanttoseethem."

           Helookedatme,Iguess,asI’dlookedatMargie,sawmeforthefirsttime.

           "Whatyougotonyourmind,kid?"

           "Hurtsmetoseeyourarthritis.Ithoughthowit’swarminSicily.Mightknockthepainout."

           Helookedatmesuspiciously."What’swithyou?"

           "Howdoyoumean?"

           "Youlookdifferent."

           "Oh!Igotalittlebitofgoodnews."

           "Notgoingtoquit?"

           "Notrightaway.IfyouwantedtomakeatriptoItaly,IcouldpromiseI’dbehere."

           "What’sgoodnews?"

           "Can’ttellyouyet.It’slikethis...."Ibalancedmypalmbackandforth.

           "Money?"

           "Couldbe.Look,you’rerichenough.Whydon’tyougobacktoSicilyandshow’emwhatarichAmericanlookslike?Soakupsomesun.Icantakecareofthestore.Youknowthat."

           "Youain’tquitting?"

           "Hell,no.YouknowmewellenoughtoknowIwouldn’trunoutonyou."

           "Youchanged,kid.Why?"

           "Itoldyou.Gobouncethebambinos."

           "Idon’tbelongthere,"hesaid,butIknewI’dplantedsomething—reallysomething.AndIknewhe’dcomeinlatethatnightandgooverthebooks.