The speedy, well-engineered Underwood was eventually so successful that within a couple of decades, the vast majority of typewriters followed its model: They were single-shift, frontstroke, typebar typewriters with four-bank QWERTY keyboards, inked by a ribbon.

Mrs Lackersteen was a woman of about thirty-five, handsome in a contourless, elongated way, like a fashion plate.

My heart is breaking.

In his senior year, he had run across an old '66 Chevy Super Sport headed for the junkyard, bought it for a song, and overhauled it with his dad's help, turning it into the big red muscle car it was back in its day.