Вино из одуванчиков

           Thechildrenthankedherwithsnowintheirmouths,theireyesdartingfromherbuttoned-upshoestoherwhitehair.

           "Don’tyouwantabite?"saidtheboy.

           "No,child.I’moldenoughandcoldenough;thehottestdaywon’tthawme,"laughedMrs.Bentley.

           Theycarriedtheminiatureglaciersupandsat,threeinarow,ontheshadyporchglider.

           "I’mAlice,she’sJane,andthat’sTomSpaulding."

           "Hownice.AndI’mMrs.Bentley.TheycalledmeHelen."

           Theystaredather.

           "Don’tyoubelievetheycalledmeHelen?"saidtheoldlady.

           "Ididn’tknowoldladieshadfirstnames,"saidTom,blinking.

           Mrs.Bentleylaugheddryly.

           "Youneverhearthemused,hemeans,"saidJane.

           "Mydear,whenyouareasoldasI,theywon’tcallyouJane,either.Oldageisdreadfullyformal.It’salways‘Mrs.’YoungPeopledon’tliketocallyou‘Helen.’Itseemsmuchtooflip.""Howoldareyou?"askedAlice.

           "Irememberthepterodactyl."Mrs.Bentleysmiled.

           "No,buthowold?"

           "Seventy-two."

           Theygavetheircoldsweetsanextralongsuck,deliberating.

           "That’sold,"saidTom.

           "Idon’tfeelanydifferentnowthanwhenIwasyourage,"saidtheoldlady.

           "Ourage?"

           "Yes.OnceIwasaprettylittlegirljustlikeyou,Jane,andyou,Alice."

           Theydidnotspeak."What’sthematter?"

           "Nothing."Janegotup.

           "Oh,youdon’thavetogososoon,Ihope.Youhaven’tfinishedeating...Issomethingthematter?"

           "Mymothersaysitisn’tnicetofib,"saidJane.

           "Ofcourseitisn’t.