Чужак в чужой стране

           "Why,Michael!"

           "Oh,Iknewallthewords;Isimplydidn’tknowwhenorwhytosaythem?norwhyyouwantedmeto.Iloveyou,sweetheart–Igrok‘love’now,too."

           "Youalwayshave.Iknew.AndIloveyou?yousmoothape.Mydarling."

           "‘Ape,’yes.Comehere,sheape,andputyourheadonmyshoulderandtellmeajoke."

           "Justtellyouajoke?"

           "Well,nothingmorethansnuggling.TellmeajokeI’veneverheardandseeifIlaughattherightplace.Iwill,I’msureofit–andI’llbeabletotellyouwhyit’sfunny.Jill?Igrokpeople!"

           "Buthow,darling?Canyoutellme?DoesitneedMartian?Ormindtalk?"

           "No,that’sthepoint.Igrokpeople.Iampeople?sonowIcansayitinpeopletalk.I’vefoundoutwhypeoplelaugh.Theylaughbecauseithurtssomuch?becauseit’stheonlythingthat’llmakeitstophurting."

           Jilllookedpuzzled."MaybeI’mtheonewhoisn’tpeople.Idon’tunderstand."

           "Ah,butyouarepeople,littlesheape.Yougrokitsoautomaticallythatyoudon’thavetothinkaboutit.Becauseyougrewupwithpeople.ButIdidn’t.I’vebeenlikeapuppyraisedapartfromotherdogs–Whocouldn’tbelikehismastersandhadneverlearnedhowtobeadog.SoIhadtobetaught.BrotherMahmoudtaughtme,Jubaltaughtme,lotsofpeopletaughtme?andyoutaughtmemostofall.TodayIgotmydiploma–andIlaughed.Thatpoorlittlemonk."

           "Whichone,dear?Ithoughtthatbigonewasjustmean?andtheoneIflippedthepeanuttoturnedouttobejustasmean.