“Mommy,” Ramona said, “can I go out and play?”
Eloise looked at her. “You just came in,” she said.
“Jimmy wants to go out again.”
“Why, may I ask?”
“He left his sword outside.”
“Oh, him and his goddam sword,” Eloise said. “Well. Go ahead. Put your galoshes back on.”
“Can I have this?” Ramona said, taking a burned match out of the ashtray.
“May I have this. Yes. Stay out of the street, please.”
“Goodbye, Ramona!” Mary Jane said musically.
“Bye,” said Ramona. “C’mon, Jimmy.”