Коллекционер

           ButI’minafevertotryit.

           TheNielsenwoman.

           I’dmethertwicemoreatG.P.’s,whentherewereotherpeoplethere—onewasherhusband,aDane,somekindofimporter.HespokeperfectEnglish,soperfectitsoundedwrong.Affected.

           Imetheronedaywhenshewascomingoutofthehairdresser’sandI’dbeenintomakeanappointmentforCaroline.Shehadonthatspecialqueasy-brightlookwomenlikeherputonforgirlsofmyage.WhatMinnycallswelcome-to-the-tribe-of-women.Itmeansthey’regoingtotreatyoulikeagrown-up,buttheydon’treallythinkyouareandanyhowthey’rejealousofyou.

           Shewouldtakemeforcoffee.Iwassilly,Ishouldhavelied.Itwasallrhubarb,aboutme,aboutherdaughter,aboutart.Sheknowspeopleandtriedtodazzlemewithnames.Butit’swhatpeoplefeelaboutartthatIrespect.Notwhatorwhotheyknow.

           Iknowshecan’tbealesbian,butsheclingslikethattoone’swords.Thingsinhereyesshedoesn’tdaretellyou.Butwantsyoutoaskherto.

           Youdon’tknowwhat’sgoneonandwhatstillgoesonbetweenG.P.andme,sheseemedtosay.Idareyoutoaskme.

           ShetalkedonandonaboutCharlotteStreetinthelate’thirtiesandthewar.DylanThomas.G.P.

           Helikesyou,shesaid.

           Iknow,Ianswered.

           Butitwasashock.Boththatsheshouldknow(hadhetoldher?)andthatshewantedtodiscussit.Iknowshedid.

           He’salwaysfallenforthereallyprettyones,shesaid.

           Shewantedterriblytodiscussit.

           Thenitwasherdaughter.