all he could hear was the dripping of water from the edge of the overhang and , farther away , the stream talking softly to itself as though the storm had never happened . the infant , wrapped in a soft pink blanket , was sound asleep . she arrived on a high balcony that overlooked the hall . she bent over and picked up something by its edges , surprise on her features as she turned toward us . a week later another heat wave arrived and the jeans were put away , hopefully for the next couple of months . 