Вино из одуванчиков

           "Idon’twantanyHalloweenpartiesheretomorrow.Don’twantanyonesayinganythingsweetaboutme;Isaiditallinmytimeandmypride.I’vetastedeveryvictualanddancedeverydance;nowthere’sonelasttartIhaven’tbiton,onetuneIhaven’twhistled.ButI’mnotafraid.I’mtrulycurious.Deathwon’tgetacrumbbymymouthIwon’tkeepandsavor.Sodon’tyouworryoverme.Now,allofyougo,andletmefindmysleep..."

           Somewhereadoorclosedquietly.

           "That’sbetter."Aloneshesnuggledluxuriouslydownthroughthewarmsnowbankoflinenandwool,sheetandcover,andthecolorsofthepatchworkquiltwerebrightasthecircusbannersofoldtime.Lyingthere,shefeltassmallandsecretasonthosemorningseighty-some-oddyearsagowhen,wakening,shecomfortedhertenderbonesinbed.

           Alongtimeback,shethought,Idreamedadream,andwasenjoyingitsomuchwhensomeonewakenedme,andthatwasthedaywhenIwasborn.Andnow?Now,letmesee...Shecasthermindback.WherewasI?shethought.Ninetyyears...howtotakeupthethreadandthepatternofthatlostdreamagain?Sheputoutasmallhand.There...Yes,thatwasit.Shesmiled.Deeperinthewarmsnowhillsheturnedherheaduponherpillow.Thatwasbetter.Now,yes,nowshesawitshapinginhermindquietly,andwithaserenitylikeaseamovingalonganendlessandself-refreshingshore.Nowshelettheolddreamtouchandliftherfromthesnowanddriftherabovethescarce-rememberedbed.