Коллекционер

           Igottheelectricianstorunapowercabledowntothecellar,andtheplumberswaterandasink.ImadeoutIwantedtodocarpentryandphotographyandthatwouldbemyworkroom.Itwasn’talie,therewascarpentrytodoallright.AndIwasalreadytakingsomephotographsIcouldn’thavedevelopedinashop.Nothingnasty.Justcouples.

           AttheendofAugust,themenmovedoutandImovedin.Tobeginwith,Ifeltlikeinadream.Butthatsoonworeoff.Iwasn’tleftaloneasmuchasIexpected.Amancameandwantedtodothegarden,he’dalwaysdoneit,andhegotverynastywhenIsenthimaway.ThenthevicarfromthevillagecameandIhadtoberudewithhim.IsaidIwantedtobeleftalone,IwasNonconformist,Iwantednothingtodowiththevillage,andhewentoffla-di-dainahuff.Thentherewereseveralpeoplewithvan-shopsandIhadtoputthemoff.IsaidIboughtallmygoodsinLewes.

           Ihadthetelephonedisconnected,too.

           Isoongotinthehabitoflockingthefrontgate,itwasonlyagrille,buthadalock.OnceortwiceIsawtradesmenlook-ingthrough,butpeoplesoonseemedtogetthepoint.Iwasleftalone,andcouldgetonwithmywork.

           Iworkedforamonthormoregettingmyplansready.Iwasaloneallthetime;nothavinganyrealfriendswaslucky.(Youcouldn’tcalltheAnnexepeoplefriends,Ididn’tmissthem,theydidn’tmissme.)

           IusedtodooddjobsforAuntAnnie,UncleDicktaughtme.Iwasn’tbadatcarpenteringandsoon,andIfittedouttheroomverynicely,thoughIsayitmyself.AfterIgotitdriedoutIputseverallayersofinsulatingfeltandthenanicebrightorangecarpet(cheerful)fittingthewalls(whichwerewhitewashed.)Igotinabedandachestofdrawers.Table,armchair,etcetera.