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           Youknow,somepeoplearejustnaturallyclumsy;well,AllenandEllenarejustnaturallycleverwiththeirhands."

           Iglancedatthekidstoseehowtheywerehandlingit.Theyknewtheywerebeingtaken.IthinktheywonderedwhetherMargieYoung-Huntknewit.Theywerestilllookingforanescape.Idroppedthebeamfullonthem.

           "Ofcoursetheyliketohearcompliments,"Isaid,"butwe’reholdingthemup.They’llmissthemovieifwedon’tletthemgettoit."

           MargiehadthegracenottolaughandMarygavemeaquickandstartledlookofadmiration.Theyhadn’tevenaskedtogotothemovie.

           Evenifteen-agechildrenaren’tmakingasound,it’squieterwhenthey’regone.Theyputaboilingintheairaroundthem.Astheyleft,thewholehouseseemedtosighandsettle.Nowonderpoltergeistsinfestonlyhouseswithadolescentchildren.

           Thethreeofuscircledwarilyaroundthesubjecteachoneknewwascoming.Iwenttotheglass-frontedcabinetandtookoutthreelong-stemmed,lily-shapedglasses,cottontwist,broughthomefromEngland,heavenknowshowlongago.AndIpouredfromabasket-coveredgallonjug,darkanddiscoloredwithage.

           "Jamaicarum,"Isaid."Hawleyswereseamen."

           "Mustbeveryold,"saidMargieYoung-Hunt.

           "Olderthanyouormeormyfather."

           "It’lltakethetopofyourheadoff,"Marysaid."Well,thismustbeaparty.Ethanonlygetsitoutforweddingsandfunerals.Doyouthinkit’sallright,dear?JustbeforeEaster,Imean?"

           "TheSacramentisn’tCoca-Cola,mydarling."