put a hand on Danny's jeans…clad leg and
squeezed it。 〃Your daddy has tried very hard；〃 she said softly。 〃Because he
loves us。 And we love him； don't we？〃
He nodded gravely。
Speaking almost to herself she went on： 〃He's not a perfect man； but he has
tried 。。。 Danny； he's tried so hard！ When he 。。。 stopped 。。。 he went
through a kind of hell。 He's still going through it。 I think if it hadn't been
for us； he would have just let go。 I want to do what's right。 And I don't know。
Should we go？ Stay？ It's like a choice between the fat and the fire。〃
〃I know。〃
〃Would you do something for me； doc？〃
〃What？〃
〃Try to make Tony e。 Right now。 Ask him if we're safe at the Overlook。〃
〃I already tried；〃 Danny said slowly。 〃This morning。〃
〃What happened？〃 Wendy asked。 〃What did he say？〃
〃He didn't e；〃 Danny said。 〃Tony didn't e。〃 And he suddenly burst into
tears。
〃Danny；〃 she said； alarmed。 〃Honey； don't do that。 Please 〃 The truck swerved
across the double yellow line and she pulled it back； scared。
〃Don't take me to Gramma's；〃 Danny said through his tears。 〃Please； Mommy； I
don't want to go there； I want to stay with Daddy 〃
〃All right；〃 she said softly。 〃All right； that's what we'll do。〃 She took a
Kleenex out of the pocket of her Western…style shirt and handed it to him。
〃We'll stay。 And everything will be fine。 Just fine。〃
* 〃Bad Moon Rising；〃 by J。 C。 Fogerty； （c） 1969 Jondora Music； Berkeley；
California。 Used by permission。 All rights reserved。 International copyright
secured。
》
IN THE PLAYGROUND
Jack came out onto the porch； tugging the tab of his zipper up under his chin；