d explained to him the year before at some
length； but enough。
Once； at nursery school； his friend Scott had pointed out a boy named Robin
Stenger； who was moping around the swings with a face almost long enough to step
on。 Robin's father taught arithmetic at Daddy's school； and Scott's daddy taught
history there。 Most of the kids at the nursery school were associated either
with Stovington Prep or with the small IBM plant just outside of town。 The prep
kids chummed in one group； the IBM kids in another。 There were cross…
friendships； of course； but it was natural enough for the kids whose fathers
knew each other to more or less stick together。 When there was an adult scandal
in one group； it almost always filtered down to the children in some wildly
mutated form or other； but it rarely jumped to the other group。
He and Scotty were sitting in the play rocketship when Scotty jerked his thumb
at Robin and said： 〃You know that kid？〃
〃Yeah；〃 Danny said。
Scott leaned forward。 〃His dad LOST HIS MARBLES last night。 They took him
away。〃
〃Yeah