Коллекционер

           BetweenthemCarolineandMhaveeveryqualityIhateinotherwomen.Ihadasortofdespairfordaysafterwards,thinkinghowmuchoftheirrotten,pretentiousbloodImusthaveinme.Ofcourse,therearetimeswhenIlikeCaroline.Herbriskness.Herenthusiasm.Herkindness.Andevenallthepretentiousnessthat’ssohorridnexttotherealthing—well,it’sbetterthannothing.Iusedtothinktheworldofherwhenshecametostay.Iusedtolovestayingwithher.Shebackedmeupwhentherewasthegreatfamilywaraboutmyfuture.AllthattillIlivedwithherandsawthroughher.Grewup.(I’mbeingaHardYoungWoman.)

           ThenaweeklaterIranintotheliftattheTubeandhewastheonlyotherpersonthere.Isaidhallo,toobrightly.Wentredagain.Hejustnoddedasifhedidn’twanttospeak,andthenatthebottom(itwasvanity,Icouldn’tbeartobe’lumpedwithCaroline)Isaid,I’msorrymyauntsaidthatatKenwood.

           Hesaid,shealwaysirritatesme.Iknewhedidn’twanttotalkaboutit.Aswewenttowardstheplatform,Isaid,she’sfrightenedofseemingbehindthetimes.

           Aren’tyou?—andhegavemeoneofhisdrylittlesmiles.Ithought,hedoesn’tlikemeplayingat"us"against"her."

           Wewerepassingafilmposterandhesaid,that’sagoodfilm.Haveyouseenit?Do.

           Whenwecameoutontheplatform,hesaid,comeroundoneday.Butleaveyourbloodyauntathome.Andhesmiled.Alittleinfectiousmischievoussmile.Nothisage,atall.Thenhewalkedoff.