Blommabathedtheirdollsatthecreeksedgeonehumidm,Ijoihemonthebankandhelpedtorihenylonhairtillitlayplasteredagainstthedollsplasticscalps.

    "Whydoyoulikeplayingwithyourbabiessomuch?"

    Kivididnotlookupfromhertask,butIcouldseshewasg.

    "ractig,"saidBlomma,"forwhenourturnesalongtobegelings.ractigtobemotherssomeday."

    "Whyareyousad,Kivi?"

    Shelookedatme,thebrightnessnowdrainedfromhereyes."Becauseittakessolong."

    Idid.Forwhileweallgrewolder,wedidnotgephysically.Wedidnotgrowup.Thosewhohadbeenintheforestfordecadessufferedmost.Thetrulymischievousfoughtthemonotonybycreatingtrouble,solvingimaginaryproblems,orbypursuierprisethat,onthesurface,appearedworthless.Igelhadspedecadeincampdigginganelaboratesystemoftunnelsandundergroundwarrensforourprote.Béka,theinline,wasonastantprowltocatyunsuspegfemaleanddragherintothebushes.

    RagnoandZanzaraattemptedtocultivategrapesnearlyeveryspringinhopeofreplagourfermentedmashwithahomegrownwine.Ofcourse,thesoilresistedeveryenrit,thedayslackedsuffitsun,mitesandspidersandisinvaded,andmyfriendshadnoluck.Aviwowouldsprout,twistandmeanderalorellisRagnohadbuilt,butneveragrapeinallthoseyears.eSeptember,theycursedtheirludtoredowntheremnants,onlytobeginagainwhenMarchteasedsuchdreams.TheseventhtimeIsawthembreakingthehardground,IaskedZanzarawhytheypersistedinthefaceoftinuedfailures.Hestoppeddiggingandleanedagainstthecrackedandaspade.

    "ereboys,everynightwehadaglassofper.