Коллекционер

           Sheclosedthebook."Tellmeaboutyourself.Tellmewhatyoudoinyourfreetime."

           I’manentomologist.Icollectbutterflies.

           "Ofcourse,"shesaid."Iremembertheysaidsointhepaper.Nowyou’vecollectedme."

           Sheseemedtothinkitwasfunny,soIsaid,inamannerofspeaking.

           "No,notinamannerofspeaking.Literally.You’vepinnedmeinthislittleroomandyoucancomeandgloatoverme."

           Idon’tthinkofitlikethatatall.

           "DoyouknowI’maBuddhist?Ihateanythingthattakeslife.Eveninsects’lives."

           Youatethechicken,Isaid.Icaughtherthattime.

           "ButIdespisemyself.IfIwasabetterpersonI’dbeavegetarian."

           Isaid,ifyouaskedmetostopcollectingbutterflies,I’ddoit.I’ddoanythingyouaskedme.

           "Exceptletmeflyaway."

           I’drathernottalkaboutthat.Itdoesn’tgetusanywhere.

           "Anyway,Icouldn’trespectanyone,andespeciallyaman,whodidthingsjusttopleaseme.I’dwanthimtodothembecausehebelievedtheywereright."Allthetimesheusedtogetatme,you’dthinkweweretalkingaboutsomethingquiteinnocent,andsuddenlyshe’dbediggingatme.Ididn’tspeak.