Коллекционер

           Hesaid,it’sveryold,lookatthiscorrosion.Then,inthesametone,infactIdecidedthatIwanttomarryyou.Ididn’tsayanythingandIwouldn’tlookathim.

           Hesaid,IaskedyoutocomeherewhenIwasalone,be-causeI’vebeenthinkingquitehardaboutthis.I’mtwiceyourage,Ioughttotakethingslikethisinmystride—Christonlyknowsit’snotthefirsttime.No,letmefinishnow.I’vedecidedI’vegottostopseeingyou.Iwasgoingtotellyouthatwhenyoucamein.Ican’tgoonbeingdisturbedbyyou.Ishallbeifyoukeeponcominghere.Thisisn’taroundaboutwayofaskingyoutomarryme.I’mtryingtomakeitquiteimpossible.YouknowwhatIam,youknowI’moldenoughtobeyourfather,I’mnotreliableatall.Anyhow,youdon’tloveme.

           Isaid,Ican’texplainit.Thereisn’tawordforit.

           Precisely,heanswered.Hewascleaninghishandswithpetrol.Veryclinicalandmatter-of-fact.SoIhavetoaskyoutoleavemetofindmypeaceagain.

           Istaredathishands.Iwasshocked.

           Hesaid,insomewaysyou’reolderthanIam.You’veneverbeendeeplyinlove.Perhapsyouneverwillbe.Hesaid,lovegoesonhappeningtoyou.Tomen.Youbecometwentyagain,yousufferastwentysuffers.Allthedottyirrationalitiesoftwenty.Imayseemveryreasonableatthemoment,butIdon’tfeelit.WhenyoutelephonedInearlypeedinmypantswithexcitement.I’manoldmaninlove.Stockcomedyfigure.Verystale.Notevenfunny.