Johnny stood like a man hypnotized; wide-eyed, the white line around his mouth, all his young soul straining after the airplane that went sailing away like a hawk balancing on outstretched wings.
"Oh-h-h-h!" gasped Mary V again, and squeezed his arm without knowing that she did so.

"O-h--he's coming back! See--see how he circles--oh-h--he's doing an S, Johnny! Oh, Johnny, you lucky, lucky boy! Oh, and it's yours! Johnny Jewel, you've simply _got_ to let me fly! Oh-h, I'm going to learn too! Oh-h-Skyrider! You wooden image, you, why don't you _say_ something ?" Johnny looked at her, and there were tears pushing up to the edge of his eyelids.

He looked away quickly and blinked them back.
Mary V bit her lip, abashed at the revelation of what this meant to Johnny.

And then the drone was a roar again, and the airplane was skimming down to them.

A _pop-pop-pop--pop_, and the motor stilled suddenly.