Вино из одуванчиков

           "I’mgoingtogetthemanager!"Helenwasgoneuptheaisle."Stopthefilm!Lights!"

           "Helen,comeback!"criedLavinia,rising.

           Theytappedtheiremptysodaglassesdown,eachwithavanillamustacheontheirupperlip,whichtheyfoundwiththeirtongues,laughing.

           "Youseehowsilly?"saidLavinia."Allthatriotfornothing.Howembarrassing."

           "I’msorry,"saidHelenfaintly.

           Theclocksaideleven-thirtynow.Theyhadcomeoutofthedarktheater,awayfromtheButteringrushofmenandwomenhurryingeverywhere,nowhere,onthestreetwhilelaughingatHelen.Helenwastryingtolaughatherself.

           "Helen,whenyouranupthataislecrying,‘Lights!’IthoughtI’ddie!Thatpoorman!"

           "Thetheatermanager’sbrotherfromRacine!"

           "Iapologized,"saidHelen,lookingupatthegreatfanstillwhirling,whirlingthewarmlatenightair,stirring,restirringthesmellsofvanilla,raspberry,peppermintandLysol.

           "Weshouldn’thavestoppedforthesesodas.Thepolicewarned-"

           "Oh,boshthepolice,"laughedLavinia."I’mnotafraidofanything.TheLonelyOneisamillionmilesawaynow.Hewon’tbebackforweeksandthepolice’llgethimthen,justwait.Wasn’tthefilmwonderful?"

           "Closingup,ladies."Thedruggistswitchedoffthelightsinthecoolwhite-tiledsilence.

           Outside,thestreetsweresweptcleanandemptyofcarsitortrucksorpeople.