Вино из одуванчиков

           Nowhewastalkingagain,aftertherememberingandthethinkingoverandtheholdingofthepictureinhismind."WhenIfirstsawthatpicture—itwasasimple,straightforwardpicturewithasimplehairdo—Ididn’tknowithadbeentakenthatlongago.TheiteminthepapersaidsomethingaboutHelenLoomismarshalingtheTownBallthatnight.Itorethepicturefromthepaper.Icarrieditwithmeallthatday.Iintendedgoingtotheball.Then,lateintheafternoon,someonesawmelookingatthepicture,andtoldmeaboutit.Howthepictureofthebeautifulgirlhadbeentakensolongagoandusedeveryyearsincebythepaper.AndtheysaidIshouldn’tgototheTownBallthatnight,carryingthatpictureandlookingforyou."

           Theysatinthegardenforalongminute.Heglancedoveratherface.Shewaslookingatthefarthestgardenwallandthepinkrosesclimbingthere.Therewasnowaytotellwhatshewasthinking.Herfaceshowednothing.Sherockedforalittlewhileinherchairandthensaidsoftly,"Shallwehavesomemoretea?Thereyouare."

           Theysatsippingthetea.Thenshereachedoverandpattedhisarm."Thankyou."

           "Forwhat?"

           "Forwantingtocometofindmeatthedance,forclippingoutmypicture,foreverything.Thankyousoverymuch."

           Theywalkedaboutthegardenonthepaths.

           "Andnow,"shesaid,"it’smyturn.Doyouremember,Imentionedacertainyoungmanwhoonceattendedme,seventyyearsago?Oh,he’sbeendeadfiftyyearsnow,at.