Annie: What do you mean, ‘Patience’, Shell? What does Patience have to do with the latest Leaf? Here’s a cute photo of him, by the way.
Young Patience - photo by Annie
Shell: But, Annie, that’s a pretty old photo of Patience! He’s a handsome full-grown rooster now–except that of course he’s very small, being a bantam.
Annie: I lost my camera for a few months. This pic is from November, I think. Anyway, I thought you were calling for him.
Shell: No, Annie. I was just letting our readers know to, um, have patience. Jane’s still revising the new Leaf. But she hopes to have it posted early next week.
Santa (sagely): Writer’s block.
Shell: Well, not really. She’s already written the Leaf. So it can’t be writer’s block.
Santa: Phobia of revision?
Shell: But she’s revising it–she’s not afraid of the Leaf, at least I don’t think so. Though … in a way … the Leaf is kind of scary.
Santa: No, it isn’t.
Shell: Yes, it is.
Santa: No, it–
Shell(interrupting): Anyway, check back on Leap Day! Yeah, for sure it will be posted by then!
Annie: Why?
Shell: Because — Leap Day! Get it, get it? Leaf Day!
