Вино из одуванчиков

           ShegaspedasRosehelpedherintothehouse.

           "Thereyouare,Grandma.Nowyougoteverythingwhereyoucanfindit.Nowyoucansee!"

           "Comeon,Doug,"saidGrandfather."Let’stakeawalkaroundtheblockandworkupanappetite.Thisisgoingtobeanightinhistory.Oneofthebestdarnedsupperseverserved,orI’lleatmyvest."

           Suppertime.

           Smilingpeoplestoppedsmiling.Douglaschewedonebitoffoodforthreeminutes,andthen,pretendingtowipehismouth,lumpeditinhisnapkin.HesawTomandDaddothesame.Peopleswashedthefoodtogether,makingroadsandpatterns,drawingpicturesinthegravy,formingcastlesofthepotatoes,secretlypassingmeatchunkstothedog.

           Grandfatherexcusedhimselfearly."I’mfull,"hesaid.

           Alltheboarderswerepaleandsilent.

           Grandmapokedherownplatenervously.

           "Isn’titafinemeal?"AuntRoseaskedeveryone."Gotitonthetablehalfanhourearly,too!"

           ButtheotherswerethinkingthatMondayfollowedSunday,andTuesdayfollowedMonday,andsoonforanentireweekofsadbreakfasts,melancholylunches,andfunerealdinners.Inafewminutesthediningroomwasempty.Upstairstheboardersbroodedintheirrooms.

           Grandmamovedslowly,stunned,intoherkitchen.

           "This,"saidGrandfather,"hasgonefarenough!"Hewenttothefootofthestairsandcalledupintothedustysunlight:"Comeondown,everyone!"

           Theboardersmurmured,allofthem,lockedinthedim,comfortablelibrary.Grandfatherquietlypassedaderbyhat."Forthekitty,"hesaid.