Вино из одуванчиков

           It’sverybad,"agreedMrs.Bentley.

           "Andnottolistentofibs."

           "Whowasfibbingtoyou,Jane?"

           Janelookedatherandthenglancednervouslyaway."Youwere."

           "I?"Mrs.Bentleylaughedandputherwitheredclawtohersmallbosom."Aboutwhat?""Aboutyourage.Aboutbeingalittlegirl."

           Mrs.Bentleystiffened."ButIwas,manyyearsago,alittlegirljustlikeyou."

           "Comeon,Alice,Tom."

           "Justamoment,"saidMrs.Bentley."Don’tyoubelieveme?"

           "Idon’tknow,"saidJane."No."

           "Buthowridiculous!It’sperfectlyobvious.Everyonewasyoungonce!"

           "Notyou,"whisperedJane,eyesdown,almosttoherself.Heremptyicestickhadfalleninavanillapuddleontheporchfloor.

           "ButofcourseIwaseight,nine,tenyearsold,likeallofyou."

           Thetwogirlsgaveashort,quickly-sealed-uplaugh.

           Mrs.Bentley’seyesglittered."Well,Ican’twasteamorningarguingwithten-year-olds.Needlesstosay,Iwastenmyselfonceandjustassilly."

           Thetwogirlslaughed.Tomlookeduneasy.

           "You’rejokingwithus,"giggledJane."Youweren’treallytenever,wereyou,Mrs.Bentley?"

           "Yourunonhome!"thewomancriedsuddenly,forshecouldnotstandtheireyes."Iwon’thaveyoulaughing."

           "Andyourname’snotreallyHelen?"

           "Ofcourseit’sHelen!"

           "Good-bye,"saidthetwogirls,gigglingawayacrossthelawnundertheseasofshade,Tomfollowedthemslowly.

           "Thanksfortheicecream!"

           "OnceIplayedhopscotch!"Mrs.