threeofusclamberedoveralowstonewallandstolearmloadsoffruitfromapeartree.Eachbitewasasweetsin,aookfarmorethanwecouldeat.Ihatedtoabandonthepears,butwetossedmostofthembackoverthewallandintotheorchard,leaviorotinthesun.Fromaclotheslinelaundry,weeachtooka,freshshirt,andIswipedawhitesweaterforSpeck.Luchógpocketedonesoahangingpair."Tradition."HegrinnedliketheCheshireCat."Themysteryofthemissingsoeverywashingday."

    Asdaylightbeganitsslowfade,thechildrenappearedwiththeirbooksandsatchels,andanhourortwolatercamethefathersintheirbigautomobiles.Wewaitedforsundown,andafterthat,lightsonandlightsout.Good-nightsbegotgoodnights,andhousespoppedintodarknesslikebubblesina.Hereandtherealampburned,betrayingperhapssomelonesomesoulreadingpastmidnightorawanderinginsomniacetfulbachelor.Likeabattlefieldgeneral,Igelstudiedthesesignsoftimebeforewemovedoutintothestreets.

    YearshadpassedsinceIdlastlookedthroughthestorefrontwindowofthetoyshoporfelttheroughsurfaceofbrickers.Thetowher-worldly,yetIcouldnotpassbyasingleplacewithoutexperiengafloodofassociationsandmemories.AtthegatesoftheCatholicchurch,IheardLatinraisedbyaphantomchorus.Themotionlessdyeinfrontofthebarbershhtbacksmellsofwitchhazelandtheclipofsailboxesontheerremindedmeofvalentinesandbirthdaycards.Myschooljuredapictureofchildrenstreamingoutbythedozensfromitsdoubledoors,screamingforsummer.Foralltheirfamiliarity,however,thestreetsuledmewiththeirersandstraightlihedeadweightofwalls,theclearboundariesofwindows.Therepetitivear