Чужак в чужой стране

           "Thereareways.Wanttomakeasmallbet?"

           "Yougoonhecklingmeandyou’llfindyou’renottoobigtospank.How’veyoubeen,girl?"

           "Whatdoyouthink?HowdoIlook?"

           "Healthy.Abitspreadinthebutt.You’vetouchedupyourhair."

           "Ihavenot.Iquitusinghennamonthsago.Getwithit,pal,andwe’llgetridofthatwhitefringeyou’vegot.Replaceitwithareallawn."

           "Becky,Irefusetogrowanyyoungerforanyreason.IcamebymydecrepitudethehardwayandIproposetoenjoyit.Quitprattlingandletamaneat."

           "Yes,sir.Youoldgoat."

           JubalwasjustleavingthetableastheManfromMarscamein."Father!Oh,Jubal!"Mikehuggedandkissedhim.

           Jubalgentlyunwoundhimselffromtheembrace."Beyourage,son.Sitdownandenjoyyourbreakfast.I’llsitwithyou."

           "Ididn’tcomeherelookingforbreakfast,Icamelookingforyou.We’llfindaplaceandtalk."

           "Allright."

           Theywenttothelivingroomofoneofthesuites,MikepullingJubalbythehandlikeanexcitedsmallboywelcominghisfavoritegrandparent.MikepickedabigcomfortablechairforJubalandsprawledhimselfonacouchoppositeandclosetohim.Thisroomwasonthesideofthewinghavingtheprivatelandingflat;therewerehighFrenchwindowsopeningtoit.