Вино из одуванчиков

           "Don’tyousee?"saidDouglas."Ijustcan’tuselastyear’spair."

           Forlastyear’spairweredeadinside.Theyhadbeenfinewhenhestartedthemout,lastyear.Butbytheendofsummer,everyyear,youalwaysfoundout,youalwaysknew,youcouldn’treallyjumpoverriversandtreesandhousesinthem,andtheyweredead.Butthiswasanewyear,andhefeltthatthistime,withthisnewpairofshoes,hecoulddoanything,anythingatall.

           Theywalkeduponthestepstotheirhouse."Saveyourmoney,"saidDad."Infiveorsixweeks—"

           "Summer’llbeover!"

           Lightsout,withTomasleep,Douglaslaywatchinghisfeet,farawaydownthereattheendofthebedinthemoonlight,freeoftheheavyironshoes,thebigchunksofwinterfallenawayfromthem.

           "Reasons.I’vegottothinkofreasonsfortheshoes."

           Well,asanyoneknew,thehillsaroundtownwerewildwithfriendsputtingcowstoriot,playingbarometertotheatmosphericchanges,takingsun,peelinglikecalendarseachdaytotakemoresun.Tocatchthosefriends,youmustrunmuchfasterthanfoxesorsquirrels.Asforthetown,itsteamedwithenemiesgrownirritablewithheat,sorememberingeverywinterargumentandinsult.Findfriends,ditchenemies!ThatwastheCream-SpongeParaLitefootmotto.Doestheworldruntoofast?Wanttocatchup?Wanttobealert,stayalert?Litefoot,then!Litefoot!"