Звездный десант

           HehadmylistofpreferencesandthereportsonallmytestsandIsawthathewasholdingmyhighschooltranscript—whichpleasedme,forIhaddoneallrightinschool;Ihadstoodhighenoughwithoutstandingsohighastobemarkedasagreasygrind,havingneverflunkedanycoursesanddroppedonlyone,andIhadbeenratherabigmanaroundschoolotherwise:swimmingteam,debateteam,tracksquad,classtreasurer,silvermedalintheannualliterarycontest,chairmanofthehomecomingcommittee,stufflikethat.Awell-roundedrecordandit’salldowninthetranscript.

           HelookedupasIcamein,said,"Sitdown,Johnnie,"andlookedbackatthetranscript,thenputitdown."Youlikedogs?"

           "Huh?Yes,sir"

           "Howwelldoyoulikethem?Didyourdogsleeponyourbed?Bytheway,whereisyourdognow?"

           "Why,Idon’thappentohaveadogjustatpresent.ButwhenIdid—well,no,hedidn’tsleeponmybed.Yousee,Motherdidn’tallowdogsinthehouse."

           "Butdidn’tyousneakhimin?"

           "Uh—"IthoughtoftryingtoexplainMother’snot-angry-but-terribly-terribly-hurtroutinewhenyoutriedtobuckheronsomethingshehadhermindmadeupabout.ButIgaveup."No,sir."

           "Mmm...haveyoueverseenaneodog?"

           "Uh,once,sir.TheyexhibitedoneattheMacarthurTheatertwoyearsago.ButtheS.P.C.A.madetroubleforthem."

           "LetmetellyouhowitiswithaK-9team.Aneodogisnotjustadogthattalks."

           "Icouldn’tunderstandthatneoattheMacarthur.Dotheyreallytalk?"

           "Theytalk.Yousimplyhavetotrainyoureartotheiraccent.