Чужак в чужой стране

           But,darling,Ijustnevergotaroundtotakingthisrobeoff.IamwearingitbecauseIhavetogobbleandgit.ButhadIgrokkedthatthatwastroublingyou,IcertainlywouldhavechuckeditbeforeIsaidhelloeventhoughIwasn’tsuretherewasanotheronehandy.We’resousedtodressingornotdressingaccordingtowhatweneedtodothatIjustplainforgotthatImightnotbebehavingpolitely.Sweetheart,takethoseshortsoff–orleavethemon,exactlyassuitsyou."

           "Uh-"

           "Justdon’tfretaboutit,eitherway."Jillsmiledanddimpled."RemindsmeofthefirsttimeMiketriedapublicbeach,butinreverse.‘Member,Dawn?"

           "I’llneverforgetit!"

           "Ben,youknowhowMikeisaboutclothes.Hejustdoesn’tunderstandthem.Ordidn’t.Ihadtoteachhimeverything.Hecouldn’tseeanypointtothemasprotection,untilhegrokked–tohisgreatsurprise–thatwearen’tasinvulnerableasheis.Modesty–thatsortof‘modesty’;he’ssomodestinitstruesensethatithurts–body-modestyisn’taMartianconcept,itcouldn’tbe.AndonlylatelyhasMikegrokkedclothesasornaments,afterwestartedexperimentingwithvariouswaystocostumeouracts.

           "But,Ben,whileMikewasalwayswillingtodowhatItoldhimto,whetherhegrokkeditornot,youcan’timaginehowmanymillionlittlethingstherearetobeingahumanbeing.Wetaketwentyorthirtyyearstolearnthem;Mikehadtolearnthemalmostovernight.Therearegaps,evennow.Hedoesthingsnotknowingthatisn’thowahumandoesthem.