Вино из одуванчиков

           "Augustupahead,"saidDouglas."Sure.Butthewaythingsaregoing,there’llbenomachines,nofriends,anddamfewdandelionsforthelastharvest."

           "Doom.Doom.Yousoundlikeafuneralbelltolling,"saidGrandfather."Talklikethatisworsethanswearing.Iwon’twashoutyourmouthwithsoap,however.Athimblefulofdandelionwineisindicated.Here,now,swigitdown.What’sittastelike?"

           "I’mafire-eater!Whoosh!"

           "Nowupstairs,runthreetimesaroundtheblock,dofivesomersets,sixpushups,climbtwotrees,andyou’llbeconcertmasterinsteadofchiefmourner.Get!"

           Onhisway,running,Douglasthought,Fourpushups,onetree,andtwosomersetswilldoit!

           AndoutthereinthemiddleofthefirstdayofAugustjustgettingintohiscar,wasBillForrester,whoshoutedheIrwasgoingdowntownforsomeextraordinaryicecreamorotherandwouldanyonejoinhim?So,notfiveminuteslater,jiggledandsteamedintoabettermood,Douglasfoundhimselfsteppinginoffthefierypavementsandmovingthroughthegrottoofsoda-scentedair,ofvanillafreshnessatthedrugstore,tositatthesnow-marblefountainwithBillForrester.Theythenaskedforarecitalofthemostunusualicesandwhenthefountainmansaid,"Oldfashionedlime-vanillaice..."

           "That’sit!"saidBillForrester.

           "Yes,sir!"saidDouglas.

           And,whilewaiting,theyturnedslowlyontheirrotatingstools.