Вино из одуванчиков

           Lettinghimselfout,hewasconsciousofthefactthathiscarwaslikehispipeold,chewed-on,unkemptinthishugegreengardenbythisfreshlypainted,three-storyVictorianhouse.Hesawafaintghostlikemovementatthefarendofthegarden,heardawhisperycry,andsawthatMissLoomiswasthere,removed:Iacrosstimeanddistance,seatedalone,theteaserviceglitteringitssoftsilversurfaces,waitingforhim.

           "Thisisthefirsttimeawomanhaseverbeenreadyand,waiting,"hesaid,walkingup."Itisalso,"headmitted,"thefirsttimeinmylifeIhavebeenontimeforanappointment."

           "Whyisthat?"sheasked,proppedbackinherwickerchair.

           "Idon’tknow,"headmitted.

           "Well."Shestartedpouringtea."Tostartthingsoff,whatdoyouthinkoftheworld?"

           "Idon’tknowanything."

           "Thebeginningofwisdom,astheysay.Whenyou’reseventeenyouknoweverything.Whenyou’retwenty-sevenifyoustillknoweverythingyou’restillseventeen."

           "Youseemtohavelearnedquitealotovertheyears."

           "Itistheprivilegeofoldpeopletoseemtoknoweverything.Butit’sanactandamask,likeeveryotheractandmaskBetweenourselves,weoldoneswinkateachotherandsmile,saying,Howdoyoulikemymask,myact,mycertainty?Isn’tlifeaplay?Don’tIplayitwell?"

           Theybothlaughedquietly.Hesatbackandletthelaughter,comenaturallyfromhismouthforthefirsttimeinmanymonths.Whentheyquietedsheheldherteacupinhertwohandsandlookedintoit.