Вино из одуванчиков

           "Mr.Tridden,runtothecarbarn! "Soon,scatteringhotbluesparksaboveit,thetowntrolleywouldsailtheriveringbrickstreets. 

           "ReadyJohnHuff,CharlieWoodman? "whisperedDouglastotheStreetofChildren. "Ready! "tobaseballsspongeddeepinwetlawns,toropeswingshungemptyintrees. 

           "Mom,Dad,Tom,wakeup." 

           Clockalarmstinkledfaintly. Thecourthouseclockboomed. Birdsleapedfromtreeslikeanetthrownbyhishand,singing. Douglas,conductinganorchestra,pointedtotheeasternsky. 

           Thesunbegantorise. 

           Hefoldedhisarmsandsmiledamagician’ssmile. Yes,sir,hethought,everyonejumps,everyonerunswhenIyell. It’llbeafineseason. Hegavethetownalastsnapofhisfingers. 

           Doorsslammedopen; peoplesteppedout. 

           Summer1928began. 

           Crossingthelawnthatmorning,DouglasSpauldingbrokeaspiderwebwithhisface. Asingleinvisiblelineontheairtouchedhisbrowandsnappedwithoutasound. 

           So,withthesubtlestofincidents,heknewthatthisdaywasgoingtobedifferent. Itwouldbedifferentalso,because,ashisfatherexplained,drivingDouglasandhisten-year-oldbrotherTomoutoftowntowardthecountry,thereweresomedayscompoundedcompletelyofodor,nothingbuttheworldblowinginonenostrilandouttheother.