didn't like.... I said to myself I don't care if he does laugh at me, I'll
go and ask him where all that power is! And so I came....

THE MAN

There's Rex now--over across the road. He's wondering who you are. He sees
we are friends, and he's pretending to be jealous. Dogs are funny, aren't
they? But you were speaking about my poems. It's odd that their first
criticism should come from you like this. You must be about the same age I
was when I began writing--when I wanted above anything to write a book
like that, and when such a book seemed the most impossible thing I could
do. Like trying to swim the Atlantic, or live forever.

THE BOY

It seemed impossible? I should think it would be the most natural thing in
the world, for _you_--like eating dinner.

THE MAN

That's the wonderful thing--not the book, but that _I_ should have come to
write it!

THE BOY

But who else could write it?

THE MAN

At your age I thought anybody could--anybody and everybody except myself.