A pause while my mother made high-pitched sisterly devotions of gratitude.

Hot tea," he said, holding the cups. "It's just wrong.

You can never visit the same place twice. Each time, it's a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe out what came before.

But we made our own fun, mostly. I recall a time, many years later, when American children seemed unable to amuse themselves without a fortune in electrical and electronic equipment. We had no fancy equipment and did not miss it.

They weren't pressed together as closely as normal, but his shoulder bumped hers, then remained there. It was very subtle, and possibly even accidental, but it was enough.

And if we get caught, I will claim I made you go. At gunpoint. I am American. People will assume I'm armed.

Although it was very cold, he wore no coat. I think some English people think coats are for the weak.