Зима тревоги нашей

           WhenIsatdowninmybigchairunderthereadinglight,Marybroughtthepapertome.

           "Whatacomfortyouare,wiggles."

           "Thatsuitlooksrealnice."

           "You’reagoodloserandagoodcook."

           "Thetiematchesyoureyes."

           "You’reuptosomething.Icantell.I’lltradeyouasecretforasecret."

           "ButIdon’thaveone,"shesaid.

           "Makeoneup!"

           "Ican’t.Comeon,Ethan,tellme."

           "Anyearychildrenlisteningin?"

           "No."

           "Well,MargieYoung-Huntcameintoday.Outofcoffee,soshesaid.Ithinkshe’scarryingatorchforme."

           "Comeon,tell."

           "Well,weweretalkingaboutthefortuneandIsaiditwouldbeinterestingtodoitagainandseeifitwasthesame."

           "Youdidn’t!"

           "Ididso.Andshesaiditwouldbeinteresting."

           "Butyoudon’tlikethingslikethat."

           "Idowhenthey’regood."

           "Thinkshe’lldoittonight?"

           "Ifyoucaretooffermeapennyformythoughts,Ithinkthat’swhyshe’scoming."

           "Oh,no!Iaskedher."

           "Aftershesetyouupforit."

           "Youdon’tlikeher."

           "Onthecontrary—I’mbeginningtolikeherverymuch,andtorespecther."

           "IwishIcouldtellwhenyou’rejoking."

           Ellencameinthenquietlysothatyoucouldn’ttellwhethershehadbeenlisteningbutIsuspectshehad.Ellenisagirl-girl-girlandthirteentoboot,sweetandsad,gayanddelicate,sicklywhensheneedsit.Sheisinthatstagelikedoughbeginningtoset.Shemaybepretty,ornot.