Кошка под дождем

           ‘Iwanteditsomuch,’shesaid.‘Idon’tknowwhyIwanteditsomuch.Iwantedthatpoorkitty.Itisn’tanyfuntobeapoorkittyoutintherain.’

           Georgewasreadingagain.

           Shewentoverandsatinfrontofthemirrorofthedressingtablelookingatherselfwiththehandglass.Shestudiedherprofile,firstonesideandthentheother.Thenshestudiedthebackofherheadandherneck.

           ‘Don’tyouthinkitwouldbeagoodideaifIletmyhairgrowout?’sheasked,lookingatherprofileagain.

           Georgelookedupandsawthebackofherneck,clippedcloselikeaboy’s.

           ‘Ilikeitthewayitis.’

           ‘Igetsotiredofit,’shesaid.‘Igetsotiredoflookinglikeaboy.’

           Georgeshiftedhispositioninthebed.Hehadn’tlookedawayfromhersinceshestartedtospeak.

           ‘Youlookprettydarnnice,’hesaid.

           Shelaidthemirrordownonthedresserandwentovertothewindowandlookedout.Itwasgettingdark.

           ‘IwanttopullmyhairbacktightandsmoothandmakeabigknotatthebackthatIcanfeel,’shesaid.‘IwanttohaveakittytositonmylapandpurrwhenIstrokeher.’

           ‘Yeah?’Georgesaidfromthebed.