Чужак в чужой стране

           "Kids?Timsloughedyouract."

           "Wewereleavinganyhow,Pat."

           "Iknewhewasgoingto.HemakesmesomadI’mtemptedtojumptheshowmyself."

           "Now,Pat-"

           "Imeanit.Icouldtakemyactanywhereandheknowsit.Leavehimwithoutablow-off.Hecangetotheracts?butagoodblow-offthattheclownswon’tclobberishardtofind."

           "Pat,Timisright,andJillandIknowit.Idon’thaveshowmanship."

           "Well?maybeso.ButI’mgoingtomissyou.You’vebeenjustlikemyownkidstome.Oh,dear!Look,theshowdoesn’trolluntilmorning–comebacktomylivingtopandsetawhileandvisit."

           Jillsaid,"Betteryet,Patty,comeintotownwithusandhaveacoupleofdrinks.Howwouldyouliketosoakyourselfinabig,hottub,withbathsalts?"

           "Uh,I’llbringabottle."

           "No,"Mikeobjected,"Iknowwhatyoudrinkandwe’vegotit.Comealong."

           "Well,I’llcome–you’reattheImperial,aren’tyou?–butIcan’tcomewithyou.I’vegottobesuremybabiesareallrightfirstandtellHoneyBunI’llbegoneabitandfixherhotwaterbottles.I’llcatchacab.Halfanhour,maybe."

           TheydroveintotownwithMikeatthecontrols.Itwasafairlysmalltown,withoutautomatictrafficcontrolevendowntown.Mikedrovewithcarefulprecision,exactlyatzonemaximumandslidingthelittlegroundcarintoholesJillcouldnotseeuntiltheywerethroughthem.Hediditwithouteffortinthesamefashioninwhichhejuggled.