Вино из одуванчиков

           Thesoundofthedeepwarmdarkravinecamenear.

           InaminutetheystoodbeforeHelen’shouse,lookingateachotherforalongtime.Thewindblewtheodorofcutgrassbetweenthem.Themoonwassinkinginaskythatwasbeginningtocloud."Idon’tsupposeit’sanyuseaskingyoutostay,Lavinia?"

           "I’llbegoingon."

           "Sometimes—"

           "Sometimeswhat?"

           "SometimesIthinkpeoplewanttodie.You’veactedoddallevening."

           "I’mjustnotafraid,"saidLavinia."AndI’mcurious,Isuppose.AndI’musingmyhead.Logically,theLonelyOnecan’tbearound.Thepoliceandall."

           "Thepolicearehomewiththeircoversupovertheirears."

           "Let’sjustsayI’menjoyingmyself,precariously,butsafely.Iftherewasanyrealchanceofanythinghappeningtome,I’dstayherewithyou,youcanbesureofthat."

           "Maybepartofyoudoesn’twanttoliveanymore."

           "YouandFrancine.Honestly!"

           "Ifeelsoguilty.I’llbedrinkingsomehotcocoajustasyoureachtheravinebottomandwalkonthebridge."

           "Drinkacupforme.Goodnight."

           LaviniaNebbswalkedalonedownthemidnightstreet,downthelatesummer-nightsilence.Shesawhouseswiththedarkwindowsandfarawaysheheardadogbarking.Infiveminutes,shethought,I’llbesafeathome.InfiveminutesI’llbephoningsillylittleFrancine.I’ll—"

           Sheheardtheman’svoice.

           Aman’svoicesingingfarawayamongthetrees.

           "Oh,givemeaJunenight,themoonlightandyou..."

           Shewalkedalittlefaster.