Паутина Шарлотты

           Itwasquitedarknow.Inthedistance,fireworksbegangoingoff-rockets,scatteringfieryballsinthesky.BythetimetheArablesandtheZuckermansandLurvyreturnedfromthegrandstand,Charlottehadfinishedherweb.ThewordHUMBLEwaswovenneatlyinthecenter.Nobodynoticeditinthedarkness.Everyonewastiredandhappy.

           FernandAveryclimbedintothetruckandlaydown.TheypulledtheIndianblanketoverthem.LurvygaveWilburaforkfuloffreshstraw.Mr.Arablepattedhim."Timeforustogohome,"hesaidtothepig."Seeyoutomorrow."

           ThegrownupsclimbedslowlyintothetruckandWilburheardtheenginestartandthenheardthetruckmovingawayinlowspeed.Hewouldhavefeltlonelyandhomesick,hadCharlottenotbeenwithhim.Heneverfeltlonelywhenshewasnear.Inthedistancehecouldstillhearthemusicofthemerry-go-round.

           AshewasdroppingofftosleephespoketoCharlotte.

           "Singmethatsongagain,aboutthedungandthedark,"hebegged.

           "Nottonight,"shesaidinalowvoice."I’mtootired."

           Hervoicedidn’tseemtocomefromherweb.

           "Whereareyou?"askedWilbur."Ican’tseeyou.Areyouonyourweb?"

           "I’mbackhere,"sheanswered."Upinthisbackcorner."

           "Whyaren’tyouonyourweb?"askedWilbur."Youalmostneverleaveyourweb."

           "I’veleftittonight,"shesaid.

           Wilburclosedhiseyes."Charlotte,"hesaid,afterawhile,"doyoureallythinkZuckermanwillletmeliveandnotkillmewhenthecoldweathercomes?Doyoureallythinkso?"

           "Ofcourse,"saidCharlotte."Youareafamouspigandyouareagoodpig.Tomorrowyouwillprobablywinaprize