Коллекционер

           IntheendshewentlimpandIlethergo.Shestoodamoment,thenshesuddenlyjumpedandhitmeacrosstheface.Itdidn’treallyhurtbuttheshockofitwasmostnasty,comingwhenIleastexpecteditandafterI’dbeensoreasonablewhenothersmighthavelosttheirheads.Thenshewentintotheroomslammingthedoorbehindher.Ifeltlikegoinginandhavingitoutwithher,butIknewshewasangry.Therewasrealhatredinherlooks.SoIboltedthedoorandputupthefalsedoor.

           Thenextthingwasshewouldn’ttalk.ThatnextlunchshesaidnotawordwhenIspoketoherandsaidIwasreadytoletbygonesbebygones.Shejustgavemeabiglookofcontempt.Itwasthesamethatevening.WhenIcametoclear,shehandedmethetrayandturnedaway.Shemadeitveryplainshedidn’twantmetostay.Ithoughtshe’dgetoverit,butthenextdayitwasworse.Notonlyshedidn’tspeak,shedidn’teat.

           Pleasedon’tdothis,Isaid.It’snogood.

           Butshewouldn’tsayaword,wouldn’tevenlookatme.

           Thenextdayitwasthesame.Shewouldn’teat,shewouldn’tspeak.I’dbeenwaitingforhertowearsomeoftheclothesI’dbought,butshekeptonwearingthewhiteblouseandthegreentartantunic.Ibegantogetreallyworried,Ididn’tknowhowlongpeoplecouldgowithoutfood,sheseemedpaleandweaktome.Shespentallthetimesittingagainstthewallonherbed,herbackturned,lookingsomiserableIdidn’tknowwhattodo.

           ThenextdayItookincoffeeforbreakfastandsomenicetoastandcerealandmarmalade.Iletitwaitabitsoshecouldsmellit.

           ThenIsaid,Idon’texpectyoutounderstandme,Idon’texpectyoutolovemelikemostpeople,Ijustwantyoutotryandunderstandmeasmuchasyoucanandlikemealittleifyoucan.