New Worlds for Old [antikvár]

The SmileBY RAY BRADBURYIn the town square the queue had formed at five in the morning, while cocks were crowing far out in the rimed country and there were no fires. All about, among the ruined buildings, bits of mist had clung at first, but now with the new light of seven o'clock, it was beginning to disperse. Down the road, in twos and threes, more people were gathering in for the day of marketing, the day of festival.A small boy stood immediately behind two men who had been talking loudly in the clear air, and all of the sounds they made seemed twice as loud because of the cold. The small boy stomped his feet and blew on his red, chapped hands, and looked up at the soiled gunny-sack clothing of the men, and down the long Une of people ahead."Here, boy, what're you doing out so early?" said the man behind him."Got my place in line, I have," said the boy."Whyn't you run off, and give your place to someone who appreciates?""Leave the boy alone," said the man ahead, suddenly turning."I was joking.'" The man behind put his hand on the boy's head. The boy shook it away coldly. "I just thought it strange, a boy out of bed so early.""This boy's an appreciator of arts, I'll have you know,"7