Kitchen Talk

           JackcarriedDannyintothekitchen.Theboywasstillsobbingwildly,refusingtolookupfromJack’schest.InthekitchenhegaveDannybacktoWendy,whostillseemedstunnedanddisbelieving.

           "Jack,Idon’tknowwhathe’stalkingabout.Please,youmustbelievethat."

           "Idobelieveit,"hesaid,althoughhehadtoadmittohimselfthatitgavehimacertainamountofpleasuretoseetheshoeswitchedtotheotherfootwithsuchdazzling,unexpectedspeed:ButhisangeratWendyhadbeenonlyapassingguttwitch.InhisheartheknewWendywouldpouracanofgasolineoverherselfandstrikeamatchbeforeharmingDanny.

           Thelargeteakettlewasonthebackburner,pokingalongonlowheat.Jackdroppedateabagintohisownlargeceramiccupandpouredhotwaterhalfway.

           "Gotcookingsherry,don’tyou?"heaskedWendy.

           "What?…oh,sure.Twoorthreebottlesofit."

           "Whichcupboard?"

           Shepointed,andJacktookoneofthebottlesdown.Hepouredaheftydollopintotheteacup,putthesherryback,andfilledthelastquarterofthecupwithmilk.Thenheaddedthreetablespoonsofsugarandstirred.HebroughtittoDanny,whosesobshadtaperedofftosnifflingsandhitchings.Buthewastremblingallover,andhiseyeswerewideandstarey.

           "Wantyoutodrinkthis,doc,"Jacksaid."It’sgoingtotastefriggingawful,butit’llmakeyoufeelbetter.