rder.HiscapturewouldmeanIgelsreleaseandonemoresteptowardtheheadofthelineforme.

    Thechildwasaneasymark;hisparentswouldbarelybeawareofthege.Hehadfewfriends,causedherexcitementnoralarmasastudent,andwassoordinaryastobealmostinvisible.RagnoandZanzara,whohadtakenresidehefamilysattionths,reportedthatasidefrompeasandcarrots,theboyateanything,preferredchocolatemilkwithhismeals,sleptonrubbersheets,aalotoftimeinthelivingroomwatgasmallboxthatletoneknowwhentolaughandhowtoschedulebedtime.Ourboywasagoodsleeper,too,uptotwelvehoursatastretweekends.KiviandBlommareportedthathelikedtoplayoutdoorsinasandboxbythehouse,wherehehadsetupanelaboratetableauofsmallplasticdollsinblueandgray.Thedolefulfellowseemedsatisfiedtogoonlivinglifeasitis.Ienviedhim.

    Nomatterhowwepesteredhim,Igelrefusedtohearourreport.WehadbeenspyingonOscarforoverayear,andeveryonewasreadyforthege.IwasrunningoutofpaperinMessbook,andonemoredispatthefieldwouldnotonlybeawasteoftime,butawasteofpreciouspaperaswell.Haughty,distracted,andburdeheresponsibilitiesofleadershipIgelkepttohimself,asifhebothyearnedforandflihepossibilityoffreedom.Hisnormallystoicdispositiongedtoageneralpeevishness.Kivicametodinneroharedweltunderhereye.

    "peoyou?"

    "Thatsonofabitch.Igelhitme,andallIaskedhimwasifhewasready.HethoughtImeaogo,butallImeantwasfordinner."

    Nooneknewwhattosaytoher.

    "Itwaittillheleaves.Iamsidtiredoftheoldcrab.Maybethenewboywillbenice."

    Istoodupfromthemealandstormedthrou