dherchildinthebluesuit."

    "Whatyearisit,littletreasure?"Luchógasked.

    Itcouldhavebeen1972,althoughintruth,Iwasnolongersure.

    "Bynow,youmustbeayoungmaheendofthirtyyears.Andhowoldwasthemaniurewindow?"

    "Idguessaboutthesame."

    "Andhowoldwouldhisfatherbe?"

    "Twicethat,"Isaid,andsmiledlikeanidiot.

    "Yourfatherwouldbeanoldmanbynow,almostasoldasIam."

    Isatdownonthecoldground.SomuchtimehadpassedsinceIhadlastseenmyparents;theirrealagewasarevealedmystery.

    Luchógsatdownbesideme."Afterawhile,everyonefets.Iotpaintyouapictureofmydearyouth.Theoldmemoriesarenotreal—justfiguresinafairytale.Mymammycouldwalkrightuptomethisveryminuteandsay,Sonny-boy,andIwouldhavetosay,Sorry,Idontknowyou,lady.Myfathermayaswellbeamyth.So,yousee,inaway,youhavenofatherormother,orifyoudid,youwouldntknowthemanylonger,northeyyou,moresthepity."

    "Butthefellowfallingasleepinthearmchair?IfItryhard,Irecallmyfathersface."

    "Mightaswellbeanyone.Orall."

    "Andthebaby?"

    "Theyrealloome.Abotherwithhbutallthetimehungry.twalk,ttalk,tshareasmoke.Youhavethem.Somesayagelibetisababy—thereslesstolearn—butthatsmovingbackwardacrosstime.Youshouldbegoingforward.Andheavenhelpusifweeverhadababytolookafterforawholetury."

    "Idonotwanttostealanychild.Ijustwonderwhosebabythatis.peomyfather?Whereismymother?"

    Tomakeitthroughthecoldsea