Коллекционер

           Well,Isawherclimbinhiscarsometimes,orthemouttogetherinthetowninit,andthosedaysIwasveryshortwiththeothersintheoffice,andIdidn’tusetomarktheXinmyentomologicalobservationsdiary(allthiswasbeforeshewenttoLondon,shedroppedhimthen).ThoseweredaysIletmyselfhavethebaddreams.Shecriedorusuallyknelt.OnceIletmyselfdreamIhitheracrossthefaceasIsawitdoneoncebyachapinatellyplay.Perhapsthatwaswhenitallstarted.

           Myfatherwaskilleddriving.Iwastwo.Thatwasin1937.Hewasdrunk,butAuntAnniealwayssaiditwasmymotherthatdrovehimtodrink.Theynevertoldmewhatreallyhappened,butshewentoffsoonafterandleftmewithAuntAnnie,sheonlywantedaneasytime.MycousinMabeloncetoldme(whenwewerekids,inaquarrel)shewasawomanofthestreetswhowentoffwithaforeigner.Iwasstupid,IwentstraightandaskedAuntAnnieandiftherewasanycovering-uptodo,ofcourseshedidit.Idon’tcarenow,ifsheisstillalive,Idon’twanttomeether,I’vegotnointerest.AuntAnnie’salwayssaidgoodriddanceinsomanywords,andIagree.

           SoIwasbroughtupbyAuntAnnieandUncleDickwiththeirdaughterMabel.AuntAnniewasmyfather’seldersister.

           UncleDickdiedwhenIwasfifteen.Thatwas1950.WewentuptoTringReservoirtofish,asusualIwentoffwithmynetandstuff.WhenIgothungryandcamebacktowhereIlefthim,therewereaknotofpeople.Ithoughthe’dcaughtawhopper.Buthe’dhadastroke.Theygothimhome,butheneversaidanotherwordorproperlyrecognizedanyofusagain.

           Thedayswespenttogether,nottogetherexactly,becauseIalwayswentoffcollectingandhe’dsitbyhisrods,thoughwealwayshaddinnertogetherandthejourneythereandhome,thosedays(aftertheonesI’mgoingtosayabout)aredefinitelythebestIhaveeverhad.