Чужак в чужой стране

           Jubalsetthetelephonefortwohoursrefusal,stoodup,stretched,sighed,andfeltagreatweariness,wonderedifheweregettingold."Where’sdinner?Whichoneofyouwencheswassupposedtogetdinnertonight?Andwhydidn’tyou?Gad,thishouseholdisfallingtowrackandruin!"

           "Itwasmyturntogetdinnertonight,"Jillanswered,"but-"

           "Excuses,alwaysexcuses."

           "Boss,"Anneinterruptedsharply,"howdoyouexpectanyonetocookwhenyou’vekepteverysingleoneofuspenneduphereinyourstudyallafternoon?"

           "That’sthemoose’sproblem,"Jubalsaiddourly."Iwantitclearlyunderstoodthat,evenifArmageddonisheldonthesepremisesIexpectmealstobehotandontimerightuptotheultimatetrump.Furthermore-"

           "Furthermore,"Annecompleted,"itisnowonlyseven-fortyandplentyoftimetohavedinnerbyeight.Soquityelping,Boss,untilyouhavesomethingtoyelpabout.Cry-baby."

           "Isitreallyonlytwentyminutesofeight?Seemslikeaweeksincelunch.Anyhowyouhaven’tleftmeacivilizedamountoftimetohaveapre-dinnerdrink."

           "Pooryou?’

           "Somebodygetmeadrink.Geteverybodyadrink.Onsecondthoughtlet’sskipaformaldinnertonightanddrinkourdinners;Ifeellikegettingastightasatentropeonarainyday.Anne,howarewefixedforsmorgasbord?"

           "Plenty."

           "Thenwhynotthawouteighteenornineteenkindsandspread’emaroundandletanybodyeatwhathefeelslikewhenhefeelslikeit?What’salltheargumentabout?"

           "Rightaway,"agreedJill.