Chuck

Except when we call these live wires, Jack sounds asleep at the end of a big career-punching day, and Mary, well, I kind of had the sneaky feeling we woke her up.

Art nodded.

Think you're right.

You wouldn't like it so much out here without me.

No, but silly, don't bother about it.

It's not going to rain or snow tonight.

And you might get sneezing again.

Homer.

Yeah, just a little tinge.

A Homeric tinge.

Totally.

You want to take it?

Sure.

He went out and into the un-air-conditioned part of the house.

It was very warm and almost immediately he began to sweat.

God, how it must be in the city.

He started out the back door and found he couldn't see a thing in the starless night.

He came back and got the torch that hung in the coat closet, followed its rays to the garage.

He thumbed the down switch that controlled the electric doors and they rumbled into place.

Because he got pleasure out of the accoutrement that science had designed for easier living, he thumbed the up switch and watched the doors rise again.