保尔·威利亚德 /PaulVilliard
'scandyshop, , , , andhisheadwastoppedwithacloudoffine, snow-whitehair.
? Orlastlonger? , , '.
Ourhousewastwoblocksfromthestreetcarline, , 's.
“Let'sseeifwecanfindsomethinggood.” shesaid, , .
Motherwentintotownonceortwiceaweek, and, sinceinthosedaysbaby-sitterswerealmostunheardof, , andafterthatfirstvisitIwasalwaysallowedtomakemyownchoice.
, whowouldthenhandherapackageorabag, ', aftersomeconsiderableeffort, , Iworkedmywayslowlyallthewaydownthedisplaycounter.
-thegreatbigones, sotendertobiteinto, , shiny, , ofcourse, .
, “Youhavethemoneytopayforallthese?”
“Oh, yes, ” Ireplied, “Ihavelotsofmoney.”Ireachedoutmyfist, 'sopenhandIdumpedahalf-dozencherryseedscarefullywrappedinshinytinfoil.
, thenhelookedsearchinglyatmeforalongmoment.
“ Isn'titenough?” Iaskedhimanxiously.
Hesighedgently.“ Ithinkitisabittoomuch, ” heanswered, “ Youhavesomechangecoming.” , heleanedoveranddroppedtwopenniesintomyoutstretchedhand.
', evidently, whenpermissionwasgrantedformetomakethetrip, ', thewholeaffairinsignificanttomethen, wassoonforgotteninthebusyoccupationofgrowingup.
WhenIwassixorsevenyearsold, myfamilymovedeast, whereIgrewup, , andmostofthefishwereimporteddirectlyfromAsia, .
, , roundeyes, staringatthejeweledbeautiesswimminginthecrystal-clearwater.“Gosh,” exclaimedtheboy, “Canwebuysome?”
“Yes, ” Ireplied.“ Ifyoucanpayforthem.”
“ Oh, wehavelotsofmoney,”thelittlegirlsaidconfidently.
, theyaskedmeforpairsofseveraldifferentkinds, , handingittotheboy.“Carryitcarefully.” Icautioned.
