Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Thewomansmilesandnodsatboththemen,asmileandanodtoeach,andhereyesringthemup,andshebeginstomovestifflybacktotheircar,talkinginalight,youngvoice.

           "Asmysociologyprofessorusedtoemphasize,‘Thereisgenerallyonepersonineverysituationyoumustneverunderestimatethepowerof.’"

           Andtheygetbackinthecaranddriveaway,withmestandingtherewonderingiftheyeverevensawme.

           IwaskindofamazedthatI’drememberedthat.ItwasthefirsttimeinwhatseemedtomecenturiesthatI’dbeenabletoremembermuchaboutmychildhood.ItfascinatedmetodiscoverIcouldstilldoit.Ilayinbedawake,rememberingotherhappenings,andjustaboutthattime,whileIwashalfinakindofdream,Iheardasoundundermybedlikeamousewithawalnut.IleanedovertheedgeofthebedandsawtheshineofmetalbitingoffpiecesofgumIknewbyheart.TheblackboynamedGeeverhadfoundwhereI’dbeenhidingmychewinggum;wasscrapingthepiecesoffintoasackwithalong,leanpairofscissorsopenlikejaws.

           Ijerkedbackupunderthecoversbeforehesawmelooking.Myheartwasbanginginmyears,scaredhe’dseenme.Iwantedtotellhimtogetaway,tomindhisownbusinessandleavemychewinggumalone,butIcouldn’tevenletonIheard.