"Did you never go to school?"
"No, sir."
"Then you don't know much about boys."
"Not much—I know some on our street to nod to. Then John sometimes takes me to ball games, only when it is warm. When it's cold, he takes me to the movies."
The big man frowned, then he asked, "Had you any pets?"
"I always had a dog."
"Why didn't you bring him?"
"My old Toby died last week."
The boy's voice broke and the man changed the subject quickly. "You'll find it cooler here than in Boston."