Ход королевы

           “You’reastonishing,”hesaid.“I’veneverseenanythinglikeit.”Hestoodupandwalkedovertothefurnace,whereBethhadnoticedasmallshoppingbag.“Ihavetogonow.ButIbroughtyouapresent.”Hehandedhertheshoppingbag.

           Shelookedinside,hopingtoseeanotherchessbook.Somethingwaswrappedinpinktissuepaper.

           “Unwrapit,”Mr.Ganzsaid,smiling.

           Shelifteditoutandpulledawaythelooselywrappedpaper.Itwasapinkdollinablueprintdress,withblondhairandapuckered-upmouth.Shehelditamomentandlookedatit.

           “Well?”Mr.Ganzsaid.

           “Doyouwantanothergame?”Bethsaid,holdingthedollbyitsarm.

           “Ihavetogo,”Mr.Ganzsaid.“MaybeI’llcomebacknextweek.”

           Shenodded.

           Therewasabigoilcanusedfortrashattheendofthehallway.AsshepasseditonthewaytotheSundayafternoonmovie,shedroppedthedollintoit.

           ***

           DuringHealthclassshefoundthepictureinthebackofthebook.Ononepagewasawomanandonthefacingpageaman.Theywerelinedrawings,withnoshading.Bothstoodwiththeirarmsattheirsidesandthepalmsoftheirhandsturnedout.AttheVbelowherflatbellythewomanhadasimple,verticalline.Themanhadnosuchline,orifhehadyoucouldn’tseeit.Whathehadlookedlikealittlepursewitharoundthinghangingdowninfrontofit.Jolenesaiditwaslikeathumb.Thatwashiscock.

           Theteacher,Mr.Hume,wassayingthatyoushouldhavegreenleafyvegetablesatleastonceaday.Hebegantowritethenamesofvegetablesontheboard.