Коллекционер

           Istoodthereandsaid,ifhedoes,don’tresist,don’tresist.Iwasgoingtosay,dowhatyoulike,butdon’tkillme.Don’tkillme,youcandoitagain.AsifIwaswashable.Hard-wearing.

           Itwasalldifferent.Whenhecameinhejuststoodtherelookinggawkyandthenatonce,seeinghimwithoutahaton,Iknewwhohewas.IsupposeImemorizepeople’sfeatureswithoutthinking.IknewhewastheclerkfromtheTownHallAnnexe.Thefabulouspoolswin.Hisphotointhepaper.Weallsaidwe’dseenhimabout.

           Hetriedtodenyit,buthewentred.Heblushesateverything.

           Simpleassneezingtoputhimonthedefensive.Hisfacehasasortofnatural"hurt"set.Sheepish.No,giraffish.Likealankygawkygiraffe.Ikeptonpoppingquestions,hewouldn’tanswer,allhecoulddowaslookasifIhadnorighttoask.Asifthiswasn’tatallwhathe’dbargainedfor.

           He’sneverhadanythingtodowithgirls.Withgirlslikeme,anyway.

           Alilywhiteboy.

           He’ssixfeet.Eightornineinchesmorethanme.Skinny,sohelookstallerthanheis.Gangly.Handstoobig,anastyfleshywhiteandpink.Notaman’shands.Adam’sappletoobig,wriststoobig,chinmuchtoobig,underlipbittenin,edgesofnostrilsred.Adenoids.He’sgotoneofthosefunnyinbetweenvoices,uneducatedtryingtobeeducated.Itkeepsonlettinghimdown.Hiswholefaceistoolong.Dullblackhair.Itwavesandrecedes,it’scoarse.Stiff.Alwaysinplace.Healwayswearsasportscoatandflannelsandapinnedtie.