Чужак в чужой стране

           "Bettereat,ortheprescribedethanolwilldomorethanrelaxyou.Besides,thesekidswhoworkformemaysometimesmisspellwordsbuttheyareallsuperbcooks."

           MiriamhadcomeupbehindJubalwithatraybearingfourdrinks,ordershavingbeenfilledatoncewhileJubalranted."Boss,"shebrokein,"Iheardthat.Willyouputitinwriting?"

           "What?"Hewhirledaroundandglaredather."Snooping!Youstayinafterschoolandwriteonethousandtimes,‘Iwillnotflapmyearsatprivateconversations.’Stayuntilyoufinishit."

           "Yes,Boss.Thisisforyou,Captain?andforyou,Dr.Nelsonandthisisyours,Dr.Mahmoud.Waterontheside,yousaid?"

           "Yes,Miriam.Thankyou."

           "UsualHarshawservice–sloppybutfast.Here’syours,Boss.""Youputwaterinit!"

           "Anne’sorders.Shesaysyou’retootiredtohaveitontherocks."

           Juballookedlong-suffering."YouseewhatIhavetoputupwith,gentlemen?Weshouldneverhaveputshoeson’em.Miriam,makethat‘onethousandtimes’inSanskrit."

           "Yes,Boss.JustassoonasIfindtimetolearnit."Shepattedhimonthehead."Yougorightaheadandhaveyourtizzy,dear;you’veearnedit.We’reallproudofyou."

           "Backtothekitchen,woman.Holdit–haseverybodyelsegotadrink?Where’sBen’sdrink?Where’sBen?"

           "Theyhavebynow.Benisphoninginhiscolumn,Hisdrinkisathiselbow."

           "Verywell.Youmaybackoutquietly,withoutformality–andsendMikein.