
    ,,XVIII

,PET]'S ,GOAT

  ,MAIMIE FELT Q %Y1 B ,PET] KNEW N :AT
%Y WAS4
  8,I HOPE Y H _H A GD NI<T10 HE SD
E>NE/LY4
  8,?ANK Y10 %E REPLI$1 8,I 0 S COSY &
W>M4 ,B Y0--& %E LOOK$ AT 8 NAK$;S
AWKW>DLY--8DON'T Y FEEL ! L1/ BIT COLD80
  ,N[ COLD 0 ANO!R ^W ,PET] _H =GOTT51 S
HE ANSW]$1 8,I ?9K N1 B ,I MAY 2 WR;G3 Y
SEE ,I AM R IGNORANT4 ,I AM N EXACTLY A
BOY1 ,SOLOMON SAYS ,I AM A ,2TWIXT-&-
,2T40
  8,S T IS :AT X IS CALL$10 SD ,MAIMIE
?"\;LLY4
  8,T'S N MY "N10 HE EXPLA9$1 8MY "N IS
,PET] ,PAN40
  8,YES1 ( C\RSE10 %E SD1 8,I "K1
"EYBODY "KS40
  ,Y C'T ?9K H[ PL1S$ ,PET] 0 6LE>N T
ALL ! P \TSIDE ! GATES KNEW AB HM4 ,HE
BE7$ ,MAIMIE 6TELL HM :AT !Y KNEW & :AT
!Y SD1 & %E DID S4 ,!Y 7 SITT+ 0? "T ON
A FALL5 TREE2 ,PET] _H CLE>$ (F ! SN[ =
,MAIMIE1 B HE SAT ON A SN[Y BIT HMF4
  8,SQUEEZE CLOS]10 ,MAIMIE SD4
  8,:AT IS T80 HE ASK$1 & %E %[$ HM1 &
!N HE DID X4 ,!Y TALK$ TGR & HE F.D T P
KNEW A GRT D1L AB HM1 B N "EY?+1 N T HE
_H G"O BACK 6HIS "M & BE5 B>R$ \1 =
9/.E1 & HE SD NO?+ ( ? 6,MAIMIE1 = X /
HUMILIAT$ HM4
  8,D !Y "K T ,I PLAY GAMES EXACTLY L
R1L BOYS80 HE ASK$ V PR\DLY4 8,OH1
,MAIMIE1 PL1SE TELL !M60 ,B :5 HE REV1L$
H[ HE PLAY$1 0SAIL+ 8 HOOP ON ! ,R.D
,POND1 & S ON1 %E 0 SIMPLY HORRIFI$4
  8,ALL YR WAYS ( PLAY+10 %E SD ) H] BIG
EYES ON HM1 8>E Q1 Q WR;G1 & N 9 ! L1/ L
H[ BOYS PLAY60
  ,POOR ,PET] UTT]$ A LL MOAN AT ?1 & HE
CRI$ =! F/ "T = ,I "K N H[ L;G4 ,MAIMIE
0 EXTREMELY SORRY = HM1 & L5T HM H]
H&K]*IEF1 B HE DIDN'T "K 9 ! L1/ :AT 6D
) X1 S %E %[$ HM1 T IS 6SAY1 %E WIP$ H]
EYES1 & !N GAVE X BACK 6HM1 SAY+ 8,N[ Y
D X10 B 9/1D ( WIP+ 8 [N EYES HE WIP$
H]S1 & %E ?"\ X BE/ 6PRET5D T ? 0 :AT %E
_H M1NT4
  ,%E SD1 \ ( P;Y = HM1 8,I % GIVE Y A
KISS IF Y L10 B ?\< HE ONCE KNEW HE _H
L;G =GOTT5 :AT KISSES >E1 & HE REPLI$1
8,?ANK Y10 & HELD \ 8 H&1 ?9K+ %E _H
(F]$ 6PUT "S?+ 96X4 ,? 0 A GRT %OCK 6H]1
B %E FELT %E CD N EXPLA9 )\T %AM+ HM1 S
) *>M+ DELICACY %E GAVE ,PET] A ?IM# :
HAPP5$ 6BE 9 H] POCKET1 & PRET5D$ T X 0
A KISS4 ,POOR LL BOY6 HE Q 2LIEV$ H]1 &
6? "D HE WE>S X ON 8 F+]1 ?\< "! C 2
SC>CELY ANY"O :O NE$S A ?IM# S LL4 ,Y
SEE1 ?\< / A T9Y *1 X 0 RE,Y YE>S & YE>S
S9CE HE _H SE5 8 "M1 & ,I D>ESAY ! BABY
:O _H SUPPLANT$ HM 0 N[ A MAN ) :ISK]S4
  ,B Y M/ N ?9K T ,PET] ,PAN 0 A BOY
6P;Y R ?AN 6ADMIRE2 IF ,MAIMIE 2GAN
0?9K+ ?1 %E SOON F.D %E 0 V M* MISTAK54
,H] EYES GLI/5$ ) ADMIR,N :5 HE TOLD H]
( 8 ADV5TURES1 ESPECI,Y ( H[ HE W5T 6&
FRO 2T ! ISL& &! ,G>D5S 9 ! ,?RU%'S
,NE/4
  8,H[ ROMANTIC10 ,MAIMIE EXCLAIM$1 B X
0 ANO!R UN"KN ^W1 & HE HUNG 8 H1D ?9K+
%E 0 DESPIS+ HM4
  8,I SUPPOSE ,TONY WD N H D"O T80 HE SD
V HUMBLY4
  8,N"E1 N"E60 %E ANSW]$ ) 3VIC;N1 8HE
WD H BE5 AFRAID40
  8,:AT IS AFRAID80 ASK$ ,PET] L;G+LY4
,HE ?"\ X M/ 2 "S SPL5DID ?+4 8,I D WI%
Y WD T1* ME H[ 6BE AFRAID1 ,MAIMIE10 HE
SD4
  8,I 2LIEVE NO "O CD T1* T 6Y10 %E
ANSW]$ ADOR+LY1 B ,PET] ?"\ %E M1NT T HE
0 /UPID4 ,%E _H TOLD HM AB ,TONY &(!
WICK$ ?+ %E DID 9 ! D>K 6F"R5 HM 7%E
KNEW Q WELL T X 0 WICK$71 B ,PET]
MIS"U/OOD H] M1N+ & SD1 8,OH1 H[ ,I WI%
,I 0 Z BRAVE Z ,TONY40
  ,X Q IRRITAT$ H]4 8,Y >E TW5TY ?\S&
"TS BRAV] ?AN ,TONY10 %E SD1 8Y >E "E S
M* ! BRAVE/ BOY ,I "E KNEW60
  ,HE CD SC>CELY 2LIEVE %E M1NT X1 B :5
2 DID 2LIEVE HE SCR1M$ ) JOY4
  8,& IF Y WANT V M* 6GIVE ME A KISS10
,MAIMIE SD1 8Y
C D X40
  ,V RELUCTANTLY ,PET] 2GAN 6TAKE ! ?IM#
(F 8 F+]4 ,HE ?"\ %E WANT$ X BACK4
  8,I DON'T M1N A KISS10 %E SD HURRI$LY1
8,I M1N A ?IM#40
  8,:AT'S T80 ,PET] ASK$4
  8,X'S L ?10 %E SD1 & KISS$ HM4
  8,I %D LOVE 6GIVE Y A ?IM#10 ,PET] SD
GRAVELY1 S HE GAVE H] "O4 ,HE GAVE H] Q
A NUMB] ( ?IM#S1 & !N A DELI<T;L IDEA
CAME 96HIS H1D6 8,MAIMIE10 HE SD1 8W Y
M>RY ME80
  ,N[1 /RANGE 6TELL1 ! SAME IDEA _H -E
AT EXACTLY ! SAME "T 96,MAIMIE'S H1D4
8,I %D L TO10 %E ANSW]$1 8B W "! 2 ROOM
9 YR BOAT = TWO80
  8,IF Y SQUEEZE CLOSE10 HE SD EAG]LY4
  8,P]H ! BIRDS WD 2 ANGRY80
  ,HE ASSUR$ H] T ! BIRDS WD LOVE 6H H]1
?\< ,I AM N S C]TA9 ( X MYF4 ,AL T "! 7
V FEW BIRDS 9 W9T]4 8,( C\RSE !Y MI<T
WANT YR CLO!S10 HE _H 6ADMIT R FALT]+LY4
  ,%E 0 "S:AT 9DIGNANT AT ?4
  8,!Y >E ALW ?9K+ ( _! NE/S10 HE SD
APOLOGETIC,Y1 8& "! >E "S BITS ( Y0--HE
/ROK$ ! FUR ON H] PELISSE--8T WD EXCITE
!M V M*40
  8,!Y %A'N'T H MY FUR10 %E SD %>PLY4
  8,NO10 HE SD1 / FONDL+ X1 H["E1 8NO6
,OH1 ,MAIMIE10 HE SD RAPTUR\SLY1 8D Y "K
:Y ,I LOVE Y8 ,X IS 2C Y >E L A B1UTI;L
NE/40
  ,"SH[ ? MADE H] UNEASY4 8,I ?9K Y >E
SP1K+ M L A BIRD ?AN A BOY N[10 %E SD1
HOLD+ BACK1 & 9DE$ HE 0 EV5 LOOK+ R L A
BIRD4 8,AF ALL10 %E SD1 8Y >E ONLY A
,2TWIXT-&-,2T40 ,B X HURT HM S M* T %E
IMMLY A4$1 8,X M/ 2 A DELICI\S ?+ 6BE40
  8,-E & 2 "O !N1 DE> ,MAIMIE10 HE
IMPLOR$ H]1 & !Y SET (F =! BOAT1 = X 0
N[ V NE> ,OP5-,GATE "T4 8,& Y >E N A BIT
L A NE/10 HE :ISP]$ 6PL1SE H]4
  8,B ,I ?9K X IS R NICE 6BE L "O10 %E
SD 9 A WOMAN'S 3TRADICTORY WAY4 8,&1
,PET]1 DE>1 ?\< ,I C'T GIVE !M MY FUR1
,I WDN'T M9D _! BUILD+ 9 X4 ,FANCY A NE/
9 MY NECK ) LL SPOTTY E7S 9 X6 ,OH1
,PET]1 H[ P]FECTLY LOVELY60
  ,B Z !Y DREW NE> ! ,S]P5T9E1 %E %IV]$
A LL1 & SD1 8,( C\RSE ,I % G & SEE "M
(T51 Q (T54 ,X IS N Z IF ,I 0 SAY+ GD-
BYE = "E 6"M1 X IS N 9 ! L1/ L T40
  8,OH1 NO10 ANSW]$ ,PET]1 B 9 8 HE>T HE
KNEW X 0 V L T1 & HE WD H TOLD H] S _H
HE N BE5 9 A QUAK+ FE> ( LOS+ H]4 ,HE 0
S FOND ( H]1 HE FELT HE CD N LIVE )\T
H]4 8,%E W =GET H] "M 9 "T1 & 2 HAPPY )
ME10 HE KEPT SAY+ 6HMF1 & HE HURRI$ H]
ON1 GIV+ H] ?IM#S 0! WAY4
  ,B EV5 :5 %E _H SE5 ! BOAT & EXCLAIM$
EC/ATIC,Y OV] XS LOVELI;S1 %E / TALK$
TREMBL+LY AB H] "M4 8,Y "K Q WELL1
,PET]1 DON'T Y10 %E SD1 8T ,I WDN'T -E
UN.S ,I KNEW = C]TA9 ,I CD G BACK 6"M
:5"E ,I WANT TO8 ,PET]1 SAY X60
  ,HE SD X1 B HE CD NO L;G] LOOK H] 9 !
FACE4
  8,IF Y >E SURE YR "M W ALW WANT Y10 HE
A4$ R S\RLY4
  8,! IDEA ( "M'S N ALW WANT+ ME60
,MAIMIE CRI$1 & H] FACE GLI/5$4
  8,IF %E DOESN'T B> Y \10 SD ,PET]
HUSKILY4
  8,! DOOR10 REPLI$ ,MAIMIE1 8W ALW1 ALW
2 OP51 & "M W ALW 2 WAIT+ AT X = ME40
  8,!N10 SD ,PET]1 N )\T GRIM;S1 8/EP
IN1 IF Y FEEL S SURE ( H]10 & HE HELP$
,MAIMIE 96! ,?RU%'S ,NE/4
  8,B :Y DON'T Y LOOK AT ME80 %E ASK$1
TAK+ HM 0! >M4
  ,PET] TRI$ H>D N 6LOOK1 HE TRI$ 6PU%
(F1 !N HE GAVE A GRT GULP & JUMP$ A%ORE
& SAT D[N MIS]ABLY 9 ! SN[4
  ,%E W5T 6HM4 8,:AT IS X1 DE>1 DE>
,PET]80 %E SD1 WOND]+4
  8,OH1 ,MAIMIE10 HE CRI$1 8X ISN'T FAIR
6TAKE Y ) ME IF Y ?9K Y C G BACK4 ,YR
"M0--HE GULP$ AG--8Y DON'T "K !M Z WELL
Z ,I D40
  ,& !N HE TOLD H] ! WO;L /ORY ( H[ HE
_H BE5 B>R$ \1 & %E GASP$ ALL ! "T4 8,B
MY "M10 %E SD1 8MY "M0--
  8,YES1 %E WD10 SD ,PET]1 8!Y >E ALL !
SAME4 ,I D>ESAY %E IS LOOK+ = ANO!R "O
ALR40
  ,MAIMIE SD A<A/1 8,I C'T 2LIEVE X4 ,Y
SEE1 :5 Y W5T AWAY YR "M _H N"O1 B MY "M
HAS ,TONY1 & SURELY !Y >E SATISFI$ :5 !Y
H "O40
  ,PET] REPLI$ BITT]LY1 8,Y %D SEE ! LRS
,SOLOMON GETS F LADIES :O H SIX40
  ,J !N !Y HE>D A GRAT+ CR1K1 FOLL[$
0CR1K1 CR1K1 ALL R.D ! ,G>D5S4 ,X 0 !
,OP5+ (! ,GATES1 & ,PET] JUMP$ N]V\SLY
96HIS BOAT4 ,HE KNEW ,MAIMIE WD N -E )
HM N[1 & HE 0 TRY+ BRAVELY N 6CRY4 ,B
,MAIMIE 0 SO2+ PA9;LLY4
  8,IF ,I %D 2 TOO LATE10 %E CALL$ 9
AGONY1 8OH1 ,PET]1 IF %E HAS GOT ANO!R
"O ALR60
  ,AG HE SPRANG A%ORE Z IF %E _H CALL$
HM BACK4 8,I % -E & LOOK = Y TN10 HE SD1
SQUEEZ+ CLOSE1 8B IF Y HURRY AWAY ,I ?9K
Y W 2 9 "T40
  ,!N HE PRESS$ A LA/ ?IM# ON H] SWEET
LL M\?1 & COV]$ 8 FACE ) 8 H&S S T HE
MI<T N SEE H] G4
  8,DE> ,PET]60 %E CRI$4
  8,DE> ,MAIMIE60 CRI$ ! TRAGIC BOY4
  ,%E L1PT 96HIS >MS1 S T X 0 A SORT (
FAIRY W$D+1 & !N %E HURRI$ AWAY4 ,OH1 H[
%E HA/5$ 6! GATES6 ,PET]1 Y MAY 2 SURE1
0 BACK 9 ! ,G>D5S T NI<T Z SOON Z ,LOCK-
\ S.D$1 B HE F.D NO ,MAIMIE1 & S HE KNEW
%E _H BE5 9 "T4 ,= L;G HE HOP$ T "S NI<T
%E WD -E BACK 6HM2 (T5 HE ?"\ HE SAW H]
WAIT+ = HM 0! %ORE (! ,S]P5T9E Z 8 B>K
DREW 6L&1 B ,MAIMIE N"E W5T BACK4 ,%E
WANT$ TO1 B %E 0 AFRAID T IF %E SAW H]
DE> ,2TWIXT-&-,2T AG %E WD L+] ) HM TOO
L;G1 & 2SS ! AYAH N[ KEPT A %>P EYE ON
H]4 ,B %E (T5 TALK$ LOV+LY ( ,PET] & %E
KNITT$ A KETTLE- HOLD] = HM1 & "O "D :5
%E 0 WOND]+ :AT ,EA/] PRES5T HE WD L1 H]
"M MADE A SU7ES;N4
  8,NO?+10 %E SD ?"\;LLY1 8WD 2 S USE;L
6HM Z A GOAT40
  8,HE CD RIDE ON X10 CRI$ ,MAIMIE1 8&
PLAY ON 8 PIPE AT ! SAME "T60
  8,!N10 H] "M ASK$1 8WON'T Y GIVE HM YR
GOAT1 ! "O Y F"R5 ,TONY ) AT NI<T80
  8,B X ISN'T A R1L GOAT10 ,MAIMIE SD4
  8,X SEEMS V R1L 6,TONY10 REPLI$ H] "M4
  8,X SEEMS F"R;LLY R1L 6ME TOO10
,MAIMIE ADMITT$1 8B H[ CD ,I GIVE X
6,PET]80
  ,H] "M KNEW A WAY1 & NEXT "D1
A3OMPANI$ 0,TONY 7:O 0 RE,Y Q A NICE
BOY1 ?\< ( C\RSE HE CD N -P>E71 !Y W5T
6! ,G>D5S1 & ,MAIMIE /OOD AL"O )9 A
FAIRY R+1 & !N H] "M1 :O 0 A R GIFT$
LADY1 SD1

8,MY DAU<T]1 TELL ME1 IF Y C1
,:AT H Y GOT = ,PET] ,PAN80

,6: ,MAIMIE REPLI$1

8,I H A GOAT = HM 6RIDE1
,OBS]VE ME CA/ X F> & WIDE40

  ,%E !N FLUNG H] >MS AB Z IF %E 7 S[+
SE$1 & TURN$ R.D ?REE "TS4

,NEXT ,TONY SD1

8,IF ,P4 DO? F9D X WAIT+ "H1
,WILT NE'] AG MAKE ME 6FE>80

,& ,MAIMIE ANSW]$1

8,0D>K OR LI<T ,I FONDLY SWE>
,N"E 6SEE GOATS ANY":40

  ,%E AL LEFT A LR 6,PET] 9 A LIKELY
PLACE1 EXPLA9+ :AT %E _H D"O1 & BE7+ HM
6ASK ! FAIRIES 6TURN ! GOAT 96"O 3V5I5T
= RID+ ON4 ,WELL1 X ALL HAPP5$ J Z %E
HOP$1 = ,PET] F.D ! LR1 &( C\RSE NO?+ CD
2 EASI] =! FAIRIES ?AN 6TURN ! GOAT 96A
R1L "O1 & S T IS H[ ,PET] GOT ! GOAT ON
:
HE N[ RIDES R.D ! ,G>D5S E NI<T PLAY+
SUBLIMELY ON 8 PIPE4 ,& ,MAIMIE KEPT H]
PROMISE & N"E F"R5$ ,TONY )A GOAT AG1
?\< ,I H HE>D T %E CR1T$ ANO!R ANIMAL4
,UNTIL %E 0 Q A BIG GIRL %E 3T9U$ 6L1VE
PRES5TS = ,PET] 9 ! ,G>D5S 7) LRS
EXPLA9+ H[ HUMANS PLAY ) !M71 & %E IS N
! ONLY "O :O HAS D"O ?4 ,DAVID DOES X1 =
9/.E1 & HE & ,I "K ! LIKELIE/ PLACE =
L1V+ !M IN1 & WE % TELL Y IF Y L1 B =
M]CY'S SAKE DON'T ASK U 2F ,POR?OS1 = 7
HE 6F9D \ ! PLACE HE WD TAKE E "O ( !M4
  ,?\< ,PET] / REMEMB]S ,MAIMIE HE IS
2COME Z GAY Z "E1 & (T5 9 %E] HAPPI;S HE
JUMPS (F 8 GOAT & LIES KICK+ M]RILY ON !
GRASS4 ,OH1 HE HAS A JOY;L "T6 ,B HE HAS
/ A VAGUE MEMORY T HE 0 A HUMAN ONCE1 &
X MAKES HM ESPECI,Y K9D 6! H\SE-SWALL[S
:5 !Y REVISIT ! ISL&1 = H\SE-SWALL[S >E
! _SS ( LL *N :O H DI$4 ,!Y ALW BUILD 9
! EAVES (! H\SES ": !Y LIV$ :5 !Y 7
HUMANS1 & "S"TS !Y TRY 6FLY 9 AT A
NURS]Y W9D[1 & P]H T IS :Y ,PET] LOVES
!M BE/ ( ALL ! BIRDS4
  ,&! LL H\SE8 ,E LAW;L NI<T 7T IS 6SAY1
E NI<T EXCEPT BALL NI<TS7 ! FAIRIES N[
BUILD ! LL H\SE LE/ "! %D 2 A HUMAN *
LO/ 9 ! ,G>D5S1 & ,PET] RIDES ! M>%ES
LOOK+ = LO/ "OS1 & IF HE F9DS !M HE
C>RIES !M ON 8 GOAT 6! LL H\SE1 & :5 !Y
WAKE UP !Y >E 9 X & :5 !Y /EP \ !Y SEE
X4 ,! FAIRIES BUILD ! H\SE M]ELY 2C X IS
S PRETTY1 B ,PET] RIDES R.D 9 MEMORY (
,MAIMIE & 2C HE / LOVES 6D J Z HE
2LIEVES R1L BOYS WD D4
  ,B Y M/ N ?9K T1 2C "S": AM;G ! TREES
! LL H\SE IS TW9KL+1 X IS A SAFE ?+
6REMA9 9 ! ,G>D5S AF ,LOCK-\ ,"T4 ,IF !
BAD "OS AM;G ! FAIRIES HAPP5 6BE \ T
NI<T !Y W C]TA9LY MIS*IEF Y1 & EV5 ?\<
!Y >E N1 Y MAY P]I% ( COLD & D>K 2F
,PET] ,PAN -ES R.D4 ,HE HAS BE5 TOO LATE
S"EAL "TS1 & :5 HE SEES HE IS TOO LATE
HE RUNS BACK 6! ,?RU%'S ,NE/ = 8 PA4LE1
( : ,MAIMIE _H TOLD HM ! TRUE USE1 & HE
DIGS A GRAVE =! * & ERECTS A LL TOMB/"O
& C>VES ! POOR ?+'S 9ITIALS ON X4 ,HE
DOES ? AT ONCE 2C HE ?9KS X IS :AT R1L
BOYS WD D1 & Y M/ H NOTIC$ ! LL /"OS & T
"! >E ALW TWO TGR4 ,HE PUTS !M 9 TWOS 2C
X SEEMS LESS L"OLY4 ,I ?9K T Q ! MO/
T\*+ SI<T 9 ! ,G>D5S IS ! TWO TOMB/"OS (
,WALT] ,/EPH5 ,MAT!WS & ,PHOEBE ,PHELPS4
,!Y /& TGR AT ! SPOT ": ! P>I%ES (
,WE/M9/] ,/4 ,M>Y'S IS SD 6MEET ! P>I% (
,PA4+TON4 ,"H ,PET] F.D ! TWO BABES1 :O
_H FALL5 UNNOTIC$ F _! P]AMBULATORS1
,PHOEBE AG$ ?IRTE5 MON?S & ,WALT]
PROBABLY / "Y]1 = ,PET] SEEMS 6H FELT A
DELICACY AB PUTT+ ANY AGE ON 8 /"O4 ,!Y
LIE SIDE 0SIDE1 &! SIMPLE 9SCRIP;NS R1D

B>  B>
;,W B>  B> #AC;A4
B>  B> ,P4,P4
,/4 ;,M B>  B> #AHDA
B>  B>

  ,DAVID "S"TS PLACES :ITE FL[]S ON ^!
TWO 9NOC5T GRAVES4
  ,B H[ /RANGE = P>5TS1 :5 !Y HURRY 96!
,G>D5S AT ! OP5+ (! GATES LOOK+ = _! LO/
"O1 6F9D ! SWEETE/ LL TOMB/"O 9/1D4 ,I D
HOPE T ,PET] IS N TOO R1DY ) 8 SPADE4 ,X
IS ALL R SAD4



















