И проиграли бой

           "Youdon’tknow?"

           "No.Itwasfunny—Idon’tmeanfunny.Itwasoneofthosethingsthathappen."

           "Whatdoyoumean,youdon’tknowwhathappenedtoher?"Harrylaidhispencildown.

           "Well,Icantellyouaboutit,"saidJim."HernamewasMay.ShewasayearolderthanIwas.Wealwayssleptinthekitchen.Eachhadacot.WhenMaywasaboutfourteenandIwasthirteen,shehungasheetacrossthecornertomakeakindofalittleclosettodressandundressbehind.Shegotgiggly,too.Usedtositonthestepsdownstairswithalotofothergirls,andgigglewhenboyswentby.Shehadyellowhair.Shewaskindofpretty,Iguess.Well,oneeveningIcamehomefromplayingballoveronTwenty-thirdandFulton—usedtobeavacantlot,there’sabanktherenow.Iclimbeduptoourflat.Mymothersaid,’DidyouseeMaydownonthesteps?’IsaidIhadn’t.Prettysoonmyoldmancamehomefromwork.Hesaid,‘Where’sMay?’Mymothersaid,‘Shehasn’tcomeinyet.’

           "It’sfunnyhowthiswholethingstandsout,Harry.Iremembereverybitofit,whateverybodysaid,andhoweverybodylooked.

           "Wewaiteddinnerawhile,butprettysoonmyoldmanstuckouthischinandgotmad.‘Putonthefood,’hesaid.‘May’sgettingtoosmart.Shethinksshe’stoobigtogetlicked.’

           "Mymotherhadlightblueeyes.Iremembertheylookedlikewhitestones.Well,afterdinnermyoldmansatinhischairbythestove.Andhegotmadderandmadder.Mymothersatbesidehim.Iwenttobed.Icouldseemymotherturnherheadfrommyfatherandmoveherlips.