Чужак в чужой стране

           HadInotknownthatitwoulddispleaseyou,Iwouldhavesentthembothaway."

           "DearMike."Shetouchedhischeek."GoodMike.Believeme,dearest,itwasbetterfartodoonlywhatyoudiddo.Neitheroneofthemwilleverliveitdown–andI’llbetthattherewon’tbeanotherattempttoarrestanyoneforindecentexposureinthattownshipforanotherfiftyyears.Let’stalkaboutsomethingelse.IhavebeenwantingtosaythatIamsorry,trulysorry,thatyouractdidn’tgoover.Ididmybestinwritingthepatterforit,dear–butIguessI’mnoshowman,either."

           "Itwasmylack,Jill.Timspeaksrightly–Idon’tgrokthechumps.NeverthelessithasbeengoodtobewithBaxter’sCombinedShows?Ihavegrokkedclosertothechumpseachday."

           "Onlywemustnotcallthemchumpsanylonger,normarks,nowthatwearenolongerwithit.Justpeople–not‘chumps.’"

           "Igrokthattheyarechumps."

           "Yes,dear.Butitisn’tpolitetosayso."

           "Iwillremember."

           "Haveyoudecidedwherewearegoingnow?"

           "No.Whenthetimecomes,Iwillknow."

           "Yes,dear."JillreflectedthatMikealwaysdidknow.Fromhisfirstchangefromdocilitytodominancehehadgrownsteadilyinstrengthandsurenessinallways.