"He's only four years old," the woman said. "But he's only four, Joe!"

"Just a second."

The boy heard footsteps coming toward the door. He shut his eyes. The door opened. The smell of whiskey and then footsteps came to the edge of the bed. The boy could feel the man's gaze upon him. The footsteps moved away. The door clicked shut. The smell remained.

"Sure it will be rough for him at first," the man said through the door, "but kids adjust real fast. And they're supposed to be nice people."

"Supposed to be," the woman mumbled. "Just because the agency says that doesn't mean they are."

"Mary, we can't afford him. It's that damn simple."

The boy turned over in the bed and put his back to the door.

�We can't give him the life he deserves," the man said. "And we have to think of ourselves. If we're miserable, he'll be miserable."

"Joe, he's my own flesh and blood!"

"Shhhhh! He'll hear you."

"But he's so young."

"It's better when they're younger. The people at the agency- - -."

"Oh, to hell with the people at the agency! To hell with them!"

Through the door the boy heard the woman begin to cry. When the crying finally stopped the man said: "We don't have to sign the paper now. Let's talk about it tomorrow."

The sound of a cabinet opening.

"Was that the last bottle?" the man asked.

"We'll have to go to the store," the woman told him.

"We bought that bottle yesterday."

"Two days ago," the woman corrected.

"Let's go to McConnell's," the man said. "We've been cooped up in this apartment long enough."

Chair legs screeched across the floor.

"You don't need your coat," the man's voice said.

The front door opened.

"Who's on duty tonight?" the woman asked.

"Ron. It's Tuesday."

"Frank works on Tuesday."

"No, Ron does."

"Frank always tends bar on . . . "

The front door slammed shut.

The boy lay with his eyes tightly closed. He brought his legs up to his chest and encircled them with his arms. He began to rock back and forth. "I must be better than I've ever been," he said to himself. "I must clean my room and brush my teeth every morning and night. I must be good and I must never ask for anything."

The boy began to rock faster and faster. "Never ever! Never ever!" he chanted. "Never ever! Never ever! Never