第3部分（第1页）

had　been　a　week　ago　and　for　a　few　days　things　had　been　better；　but　since　the

weekend　things　had　been　working　back　to　normal　—　excuse　me；　abnormal。　It　was　bad

for　the　boy。

Her　sense　of　grief　washed　over　her　again　but　she　was　on　the　walk　now　and　she

smothered　it。　Sweeping　her　dress　under　her　and　sitting　down　on　the　curb　beside

him；　she　said：　〃Whats　up；　doc？〃

He　smiled　at　her　but　it　was　perfunctory。　〃Hi；　Mom。〃

The　glider　was　between　his　sneakered　feet；　and　she　saw　that　one　of　the　wings

had　started　to　splinter。

〃Want　me　to　see　what　I　can　do　with　that；　honey？〃

Danny　had　gone　back　to　staring　up　the　street。　〃No。　Dad　will　fix　it。〃

〃Your　daddy　may　not　be　back　until　suppertime；　doc。　Its　a　long　drive　up　into

those　mountains。〃

〃Do　you　think　the　bug　will　break　down？〃

〃No；　I　dont　think　so。〃　But　he　had　just　given　her　something　new　to　worry

about。　Thanks；　Danny。　I　needed　that。

〃Dad　said　it　might；〃　Danny　said　in　a　matter…of…fact；　almost　bored　manner。　〃He

said　the　fuel　pump　was　all　shot　to　shit。〃

〃Dont　say　that；　Danny。〃

〃Fuel　pump？〃　he　asked　her　with　honest　surprise。

She　sighed。　〃No；　‘All　shot　to　shit。　Dont　say　that。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Its　vulgar。〃

〃Whats　vulgar；　Mom？〃

〃Like　when　you　pick　your　nose　at　the　table　or　pee　with　the　bathroom　door　open。

Or　saying　things　like　‘All　shot　to　shit。　Shit　is　a　vulgar　word。　Nice　people

dont　say　it。〃

〃Dad　says　it。　When　he　was　looking　at　the　bugmotor　he　said；　‘Christ　this　fuel

pumps　all　shot　to　sbit。　Isnt　Dad　nice？〃

How　do　you　get　into　these　things；　Winnifred？　Do　you　practice？

〃Hes　nice；　but　hes　also　a　grown…up。　And　hes　very　careful　not　to　say　things

like　that　in　front　of　people　who　wouldnt　understand。〃

〃You　mean　like　Uncle　Al？〃

〃Yes；　thats　right。〃

〃Can　I　say　it　when　Im　grown…up？〃

〃I　suppose　you　will；　whether　I　like　it　or　not。〃