Mother then made a remark about how Western Civilization was in a decline because people of my generation know how to nitpick but not how to write a B & B letter.

Everyone sat in rows, holding coupons they’d clipped since printing began.

Everyone sat in rows, holding coupons they’d clipped since printing began.

Had she been born five hundred years sooner, Raphael would have chosen her as a model for his cherubs.

Had she been born five hundred years sooner, Raphael would have chosen her as a model for his cherubs.

Dad hovered over me like the Goodyear blimp over the Orange Bowl

Dad hovered over me like the Goodyear blimp over the Orange Bowl

Under those bushy eyebrows of his, Grandpa Izzy’s eyes are bright blue like the sudden underside of a bird wing.

Under those bushy eyebrows of his, Grandpa Izzy’s eyes are bright blue like the sudden underside of a bird wing.

Margaret is a short blonde. She is very different from my bubbe but not very different from the thousands who make their home in South Florida.

Margaret is a short blonde. She is very different from my bubbe but not very different from the thousands who make their home in South Florida.

Sea turtles need beaches, of which Florida has many miles.

Sea turtles need beaches, of which Florida has many miles.

They oohed and aaahed, and at least once every three minutes, one way or another, someone said that nature was wonderful.

They oohed and aaahed, and at least once every three minutes, one way or another, someone said that nature was wonderful.

Ethan was smart, yes; he had a certain independence of mind, yes, and he still asked “Now what?” instead of “So what?”

Ethan was smart, yes; he had a certain independence of mind, yes, and he still asked “Now what?” instead of “So what?”

“Ginger is a genius of her genus.”

“Ginger is a genius of her genus.”

“In a pig sty an ass is a ham.”

“In a pig sty an ass is a ham.”

“What does that mean?’ Noah asked. “Less is more.”

“What does that mean?’ Noah asked. “Less is more.”

“It is scary trying to stand on your own two feet especially when you don’t have a leg to stand on, so to speak.”

“It is scary trying to stand on your own two feet especially when you don’t have a leg to stand on, so to speak.”

“Why are you here, Julian?” Nadia asked. “To wish you ‘Break a leg,’” I said.

“Why are you here, Julian?” Nadia asked. “To wish you ‘Break a leg,’” I said.

This time, however, when the applause was about to die down, Knapp and Lord exchanged a triumphant look and began barking, “Arf! Arf! Arf!” and clapping in rhythm.

This time, however, when the applause was about to die down, Knapp and Lord exchanged a triumphant look and began barking, “Arf! Arf! Arf!” and clapping in rhythm.

I answered by nodding my head like one of those animals that Americans put on the rear ledge of their automobile.

I answered by nodding my head like one of those animals that Americans put on the rear ledge of their automobile.

She had been correcting social studies papers and had just finished reading Noah Gershom’s essay on the First Amendment when the thought flew into her head. She would appoint her team the way the president appointed his cabinet.

She had been correcting social studies papers and had just finished reading Noah Gershom’s essay on the First Amendment when the thought flew into her head. She would appoint her team the way the president appointed his cabinet.

But Julian Singh was too far off the mainland. He was an island unto himself, definitely not a team player.

But Julian Singh was too far off the mainland. He was an island unto himself, definitely not a team player.

Like the cursor on a computer screen her eyes moved from the first row to the second, then stopped.

Like the cursor on a computer screen her eyes moved from the first row to the second, then stopped.

“You’ve grown since summer,” she said. “I have. I know,” he answered, and shot his arms out of his sleeves showing several inches bare above the wrist bones.

“You’ve grown since summer,” she said. “I have. I know,” he answered, and shot his arms out of his sleeves showing several inches bare above the wrist bones.

Eva Marie Olinski turned around and at eye level saw a long blue apron. Her eyes traveled upward and saw a black beard, a broad white smile, a pair of amber eyes, a white turban.

Eva Marie Olinski turned around and at eye level saw a long blue apron. Her eyes traveled upward and saw a black beard, a broad white smile, a pair of amber eyes, a white turban.

She thought that maybe - just maybe - Western Civilization was in a decline because people did not take time to take tea at four o’clock.

She thought that maybe - just maybe - Western Civilization was in a decline because people did not take time to take tea at four o’clock.

And then and there, she also knew that someday she would drink another cup of slow tea at Sillington House

And then and there, she also knew that someday she would drink another cup of slow tea at Sillington House

Mrs. Olinski’s sixth graders were David versus the eighth grade Goliath and the kids with the slingshots knew how to use them.

Mrs. Olinski’s sixth graders were David versus the eighth grade Goliath and the kids with the slingshots knew how to use them.

Dr. Rohmer, whose patience was as close to the end as his contract, arranged to give Mr. Fairbain the questions a week in advance.

Dr. Rohmer, whose patience was as close to the end as his contract, arranged to give Mr. Fairbain the questions a week in advance.

He caught Dr. Rohmer’s eye and knew he had done something wrong.

He caught Dr. Rohmer’s eye and knew he had done something wrong.

Mrs. Olinski thought Dr. Rohmer would have to be taken out on a stretcher.

Mrs. Olinski thought Dr. Rohmer would have to be taken out on a stretcher.

Other victories followed, but none was sweeter.

Other victories followed, but none was sweeter.

A place had been set at the end on the side of the table away from the wall. Handicap parking she thought.

A place had been set at the end on the side of the table away from the wall. Handicap parking she thought.

The writing was calligraphic, the paper white, the ink as black as Hecate’s soul. She examined the questions – they were good ones - and hardly noticed when the children had come out of the kitchen and taken places at the table on the side opposite her.

The writing was calligraphic, the paper white, the ink as black as Hecate’s soul. She examined the questions – they were good ones - and hardly noticed when the children had come out of the kitchen and taken places at the table on the side opposite her.

The dark wrapped the afternoon around her and kept it close.

The dark wrapped the afternoon around her and kept it close.

There is no way anyone involved with teaching in a public school in the state of New York is going to quiz anyone who is in school at taxpayer expense on the Bible. They’d be slapped with fourteen lawsuits before the buzzer finished sounding.

There is no way anyone involved with teaching in a public school in the state of New York is going to quiz anyone who is in school at taxpayer expense on the Bible. They’d be slapped with fourteen lawsuits before the buzzer finished sounding.

Mrs. Olinski gave one of her good answers: her “complementary skills” response, dressing it up to say that the team’s talents blended like a chorus, making one sound out of many voices.

Mrs. Olinski gave one of her good answers: her “complementary skills” response, dressing it up to say that the team’s talents blended like a chorus, making one sound out of many voices.

So the session was almost over when Holly Blackwell tilted her coif and turned her baby blues on the deputy superintendent and asked him how the trip to Albany would be financed. Homer Fairbain smiled and replied,

“The taxpayers are very proud.”

So the session was almost over when Holly Blackwell tilted her coif and turned her baby blues on the deputy superintendent and asked him how the trip to Albany would be financed. Homer Fairbain smiled and replied,

“The taxpayers are very proud.”

They rode in silence, listening only to the muffled thump and whirr of the tires riding over the interstate…

They rode in silence, listening only to the muffled thump and whirr of the tires riding over the interstate…

Finally, she said, “Julian makes each mile a journey of a quarter mile.”

Finally, she said, “Julian makes each mile a journey of a quarter mile.”

He learned to read the ocean by the cupful

He learned to read the ocean by the cupful

“I see that angels have landed on his eyelids.”

“I see that angels have landed on his eyelids.”

They did not know that Humpty Dumpty was not in Wonderland because they never journeyed through the looking glass to find him.

They did not know that Humpty Dumpty was not in Wonderland because they never journeyed through the looking glass to find him.

Mr. Singh had opened the windows along the side wall, and a breeze from the lake breathed sweet spring air into the room.

Mr. Singh had opened the windows along the side wall, and a breeze from the lake breathed sweet spring air into the room.