s,andItookTessasideandaskedhowshecouldaffordsuchaluxury.

    "EversinFrancisco,"shesaid,"ormaybesinceCzechoslovakia,Ivebeenwantingtodothisforyou.Apennyhere,adollarthere,andawomanwhodrivesahardbargain.EddieandIfounditforsaleatanoldchurchupinCoudersport.YourmomandCharlieputusoverthetop,youshouldknow,butweallwantedyoutohaveit.Iknowitsnotperfect,but—"

    "Itsthebestgift—"

    "Dontworryaboutthecost.Justplaythemusic,baby."

    "Igivedmyallowances,"Edwardsaid.

    Iembracedthembothaight,overebyfortune,andthenIsatdolayedfromBachsTheArtoftheFugue,lostagaintotime.

    Stillenamoredwiththenewmaedayslater,IreturhEdwardfromkindergartentoayandquiethouse.Igavehimasnack,turnedonSesameStreet,aomystudiotowork.Ontheankeyboardsatasinglesheetoffoldedpaperwithayellowstioteaffixedtothesurface."Letsdiscuss!"shehadscribbled.ShehadfoundthepassengerlistwiththenamesofalltheUngerlands,whichIhadhiddenandlockedupaimpapers;IcouldonlyimaginehowitwoundupinTessshands.

    Thefrontdoorswuhascreedbangedshut,andforadarkmomehoughtdahroughmymindthattheyhadeforEdward.IdashedtothefrontdoorjustasTessinchedherwayintothediningroom,armsladenwithgroceries.Itookafewbagstolightenherload,andwecarriedthemintothekitanddancedaroundeachotherinapasdedeux,puttingfoodaway.Shedidnotseemparticularlyedaboutanythingotherthantheedpeasandcarrots.

    eredone,shebrushedimaginarydustfromherpalms."Didyougetmynote?"

    "AbouttheUngerlands