Вино из одуванчиков

           Jonas,whereveryouare,you’rethanked,you’repaidback.Ipassediton,Isuredid,IthinkIpassediton...

           Hesleptanddreamed.

           Inthedreamthebellwasringingandallofthemwereyellingandrushingdowntobreakfast.

           Andthen,quitesuddenly,summerwasover.

           Heknewitfirstwhenwalkingdowntown.Tomgrabbedhisarmandpointedgasping,atthedimestorewindow.Theystoodthereunabletomovebecauseofthethingsfromanotherworlddisplayedsoneatly,soinnocently,sofrighteningly,there.

           "Pencils,Doug,tenthousandpencils!"

           "Oh,mygosh!"

           "Nickeltablets,dimetablets,notebooks,erasers,watercolors,rulers,compasses,ahundredthousandofthem!"

           "Don’tlook.Maybeit’sjustamirage."

           "No,"moanedTomindespair."School.Schoolstraightonahead!Why,whydodimestoresshowthingslikethatinwindowsbeforesummer’sevenover!Ruinhalfthevacation!"

           TheywalkedonhomeandfoundGrandfatheraloneonthesere,bald-spottedlawn,pluckingthelastfewdandelions.TheyworkedwithhimsilentlyforatimeandthenDouglas,bentinhisownshadow,said:

           "Tom,ifthisyear’sgonelikethis,whatwillnextyearbe,betterorworse?"

           "Don’taskme."Tomblewatuneonadandelionstem."Ididn’tmaketheworld."Hethoughtaboutit."ThoughsomedaysIfeellikeIdid."Hespathappily.

           "Igotahunch,"saidDouglas.

           "What?"

           "Nextyear’sgoingtobeevenbigger,dayswillbebrighter,nightslongeranddarker,morepeopledying,morebabiesborn,andmeinthemiddleofitall."