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hiever。 She had been unsettled by it； too。 Until this moment she had never thought that an unusually long list of achievements might count against them。
Beyond the tall windows； lightning zigzagged
down the sky。 The day flickered and； just for a second or two； so did the electric lights in O'Brian's office。
Still addressing Paul； O'Brian said； 〃You're also an author。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You've written a very successful textbook for use in American literature courses。 You've turned out a dozen monographs on a variety of subjects； and you've done a local history of the county。 And two children's books； and a novel
〃The novel was about as successful as a horse trying to walk a tightrope；〃 Paul said。 〃The New York Times critic said it was 'a perfect example of academic posturing； stuffed full of themes and symbols； utterly lacking in substance and narrative drive； infused with ivory…tower naiveté。〃
O'Brian smiled。 〃Does every writer memorize his bad reviews？〃
〃I suppose not。 But I have that one engraved on my cerebral cortex because there's an unfortable amount of truth in it。〃
〃Are you writing another novel？ Is that why you've taken a sabbatical？〃
Paul was not surprised by the question。 Clearly he now understood what O'Brian was digging for。 〃Yes； in fact I am writing a new novel。 This one actually has a plot。〃 He laughed with easy self…deprecation。
〃You're also involved in charity work。〃
〃Not much。〃
〃Quite a lot；〃 O'Brian disagreed。 〃The Children's Hospital Fund； the munity Chest； the student scholarship program at the college…all of that in addition to your regular job and your writing。 Yet you don't think you're an overachiever？〃
〃No； I really don't think I am。 The charity work
amounts to just a couple of meetings a month。 It's no big thing。 It's the least I can do； considering my own good fortune。〃 Paul edged forward on his chair。
〃Maybe you're worried that I won't have time to give to a child； but if that's what's troubling you； then you can put your mind at rest。 I'll make the time。 This adoption is extremely important to us； Mr。 O'Brian。 We both want a child very badly； and if we are lucky enough to get one； we certainly won't ever neglect it。〃
〃Oh； I'm sure you won't；〃 O'Brian said quickly； raising his hands placatingly。 〃That isn't at all what I meant to imply。 Oh； certainly not。 I'm on your side in this matter。 I mean that very sincerely。〃 He swiveled to face Carol。 〃Dr。 Tracy…the other Dr。 Tracy… what about you？ Do you consider yourself an overachiever？〃
Lightning slashed through the panoply of clouds again； nearer this time than before； it seemed to strike the ground no more than two blocks away。 The ensuing crash of thunder rattled the tall windows。
Carol used the interruption provided by the thunderclap to consider her response； and she decided that O'Brian would appreciate forthrightness more than modesty。 〃Yes。 I'd say I'm an overachiever。 I'm involved in two of the three charities that Paul has his hand in。 And I know I'm a bit young to have established a psychiatric practice as successful as mine is。 I'm also a guest lecturer at the college on a fairly regular basis。 And I'm doing post…doctoral research on autistic children。 During the summer I manage to keep a little vegetable garden going； and I do some needlepoint in the winter months； and I even brush
my teeth three times a day； every day； without fail。〃 O'Brian laughed。 〃Three times a day； huh？ Oh；
you're most definitely an overachiever。〃
The warmth of his laughter reassured Carol； and with renewed confidence she said； 〃I believe I understand what you're concerned about。 You're wondering if Paul and I might expect too much of our child。〃
〃Exactly；〃 O'Brian said。 He noticed a speck of lint on his coat sleeve and plucked it off。 〃Parents who are overachievers tend to push their kids too hard； too fast； too soon。〃
Paul said； 〃That's a problem that arises only when parents are unaware of the danger。 Even if Carol and I are overachievers…which I'm not prepared to admit just yet…we wouldn't pressure our kids to do more than they were capable of doing。 Each of us has to find his own pace in life。 Carol and I realize that a child should be guided； not hammered into a mold。〃
〃Of course；〃 Carol said。
O'Brian appeared to be pleased。 〃I knew you'd say that…or something very like it。〃
Lightning flashed again。 This time it seemed to strike even closer than before； only a block away。 Thunder cracked； then cracked again。 The overhead lights dimmed； fluttered； reluctantly came back to full power。
〃In my psychiatric practice； I deal with a wide variety of patients who have all kinds of problems；〃
Carol told O'Brian； 〃but I specialize in the mental disorders and emotional disturbances of children and adolescents。 Sixty or seventy percent of my patients are seventeen or younger。 I've treated several kids who've suffered serious psychological damage at the hands of parents who were too demanding； who pushed them too hard in their schoolwork； in every aspect of their intellectual and personal development。 I've seen the wounded ones； Mr。 O'Brian； and I've nursed them as best I could； and because of those experiences； I couldn't possibly turn around and do to my children what I've seen some parents do to theirs。 Not that I won't make mistakes。 I'm sure I will。 My full share of them。 But the one that you mentioned won't be among them。〃
〃That's valid；〃 O'Brian said； nodding。 〃Valid and very well put。 I'm sure that when I tell the remendations mittee what you've just said； they'll be quite satisfied on this point。〃 He spotted another tiny speck on his sleeve and removed it； frowning as if it were not merely lint； but offal。 〃Another question they're bound to ask： Suppose the child you adopt turns out to be not only an underachiever but。 。 。 well。。。 basically less intelligent than either of you。 For parents as oriented toward an intellectual life as you are； wouldn't you be somewhat frustrated with a child of just average…or possibly slightly below average… intelligence？〃
〃Well； even if we were capable of having a child of our own；〃 Paul said； 〃there wouldn't be any guarantee that he'd be a prodigy or anything of that sort。 But if he was。 。 。 slow。 。 。 we'd still love him。 Of course we would。 And the same goes for any child we might adopt。〃
To O'Brian； Carol said； 〃I think you've got too high an opinion of us。 Neither of us is a genius； for heaven's sake！ We've gotten as far as we have primarily through hard work and perseverance； not be…
cause we were exceptionally bright。 I wish it had e that easy； but it didn't。〃
〃Besides；〃 Paul said； 〃you don't love a person merely because he's intelligent。 It's his entire personality that counts； the whole package； and a lot of factors contribute to that package； a great many things other than just intellect。〃
〃Good；〃 O'Brian said。 〃I'm glad to hear you feel that way。 The mittee will respond well to that answer； too。〃
For the past few seconds； Carol had been aware of the distant wail of sirens。 Fire engines。 Now they were not as distant as they had been； they were rapidly growing nearer； louder。
〃I think maybe one of those last two bolts of lightning