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： 〃What's 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。 It's a long drive up into
those mountains。〃
〃Do you think the bug will break down？〃
〃No； I don't 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。〃
〃Don't say that； Danny。〃
〃Fuel pump？〃 he asked her with honest surprise。
She sighed。 〃No； ‘All shot to shit。' Don't say that。〃
〃Why？〃
〃It's vulgar。〃
〃What's 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
don't say it。〃
〃Dad says it。 When he was looking at the bugmotor he said； ‘Christ this fuel
pump's all shot to sbit。' Isn't Dad nice？〃
How do you get into these things； Winnifred？ Do you practice？
〃He's nice； but he's also a grown…up。 And he's very careful not t