Вино из одуванчиков

           Thetennisshoesfeltlikeitalwaysfeelsthefirsttimeeveryyearwadingintheslowwatersofthecreekandseeingyourfeetbelow,halfaninchfurtherdownstream,withrefraction,thantherealpartofyouabovewater.

           "Dad,"saidDouglas,"it’shardtoexplain."

           Somehowthepeoplewhomadetennisshoesknewwhatboysneededandwanted.Theyputmarshmallowsandcoiledspringsinthesolesandtheywovetherestoutofgrassesbleachedandfiredinthewilderness.Somewheredeepinthesoftloamoftheshoesthethinhardsinewsofthebuckdeerwerehidden.Thepeoplethatmadetheshoesmusthavewatchedalotofwindsblowthetreesandalotofriversgoingdowntothelakes.Whateveritwas,itwasintheshoes,anditwassummer.

           Douglastriedtogetallthisinwords.

           "Yes,"saidFather,"butwhat’swrongwithlastyear’ssneakers?Whycan’tyoudigthemoutofthecloset?"

           Well,hefeltsorryforboyswholivedinCaliforniawheretheyworetennisshoesallyearandneverknewwhatitwastogetwinteroffyourfeet,peelofftheironleathershoesallfullofsnowandrainandrunbarefootforadayandthenlaceonthefirstnewtennisshoesoftheseason,whichwasbetterthanbarefoot.Themagicwasalwaysinthenewpairofshoes.ThemagicmightdiebythefirstofSeptember,butnowinlateJunetherewasstillplentyofmagic,andshoeslikethesecouldjumpyouovertreesandriversandhouses.Andifyouwanted,theycouldjumpyouoverfencesandsidewalksanddogs.