Вино из одуванчиков

           Douglickedhispencilgood.

           "Whatyougotintheresofar?"

           "Alltheceremonies."

           "JulyFourthandallthat,dandelion-winemakingandjunklikebringingouttheporchswing,huh?"

           "Sayshere,IatethefirstEskimoPieofthesummerseasonTunefirst,1928."

           "Thatwasn’tsummer,thatwasstillspring."

           "Itwasa‘first’anyway,soIputitdown.BoughtthosenewtennisshoesJunetwenty-fifth.WentbarefootinthegrassJunetwenty-sixthBusy,busy,busy,heck!Well,whatyougottoreportthistime,Tom?Anewfirst,afancyceremonyofsomesorttodowithvacationlikecreek-crabcatchingorwater-strider-spidergrabbing?"

           "Nobodyevergrabbedawater-strider-spiderinhislife.Youeverknowanybodygrabbedawater-strider-spider?Goahead,think!"

           "I’mthinking."

           "Well?"

           "You’reright.Nobodyeverdid.Nobodyeverwill,Iguess.They’rejusttoofast."

           "It’snotthatthey’refast.Theyjustdon’texist,"saidTom.Hethoughtaboutitandnodded."That’sright,theyjustneverdidexistatall.Well,whatIgottoreportisthis."

           Heleanedoverandwhisperedinhisbrother’sear.Douglaswroteit.

           Theybothlookedatit.

           "I’llbedarned!"saidDouglas."Ineverthoughtofthat.That’sbrilliant!It’strue.Oldpeopleneverwerechildren!""Andit’skindofsad,"saidTom,sittingstill."There’snothingwecandotohelpthem."

           Seemslikethetownisfullofmachines...’saidDouglas,running."Mr.