Mink ran into the house, all dirt and sweat. For her seven years she was loud and strong and definite. Her mother, Mrs. Morris, hardly saw her as she yanked out drawers and rattled pans and tools into a large sack.
"Heavens, Mink, what's going on?"
"The most exciting game ever!" gasped Mink, pink-faced.
"Stop and get your breath," said the mother.
"No, I'm all right," gasped Mink. "Okay I take these things, Mom?"
"But don't dent them," said Mrs. Morris.
"Thank you, thank you!" cried Mink, and boom! she was gone, like a rocket.
Mrs. Morris surveyed the fleeing tot. "What's the name of the game?"
"Invasion!" said Mink. The door slammed.
In every yard on the street children brought out knives and forks and pokers and old stovepipes and can openers.
It was an interesting fact that this fury and bustle occurred only among the younger children. The older ones, those ten years and more, disdained the affair and marched scornfully off on hikes or played a more dignified version of hide-and-seek on their own.
Meanwhile, parents came and went in chromium beetles. Repairmen came to repair the vacuum elevators in houses, to fix fluttering television sets or hammer upon stubborn food-delivery tubes. The adult civilization passed and repassed the busy youngsters, jealous of the fierce energy of the wild tots, tolerantly amused at their flourishings, longing to join in themselves.
"This and this andthis," said Mink, instructing the others with their assorted spoons and wrenches. "Do that, and bringthat over here. No!Here, ninny! Right. Now, get back while I fix this." Tongue in teeth, face wrinkled in thought. "Like that. See?"
"Yayyyy!" shouted the kids.
Twelve-year-old Joseph Connors ran up.
"Go away," said Mink straight at him.
"I wanna play," said Joseph.
"Can't!" said Mink.
"Why not?"
"You'd just make fun of us."
"Honest, I wouldn't"
"No. We know you. Go away or we'll kick you."
A
nother twelve-year-old boy whirred by on little motor skates. "Hey, Joe! Come on! Let them sissies play!"
Joseph showed reluctance and a certain wistfulness. "I want to play," he said.
"You're old," said Mink firmly.
"Notthat old," said Joe sensibly.
"You'd only laugh and spoil the Invasion."
The boy on the motor skates made a rude lip noise. "Come on, Joe! Them and their fairies! Nuts!"
Joseph walked off slowly. He kept looking back, all down the block.