Коллекционер

           Fulloftearshereyeswere.Cheekswet.Itreallyupsetmetoseeherlikethat.

           Pleasebereasonable.Youknowwhatyouaretomenow;can’tyouseeIhaven’tmadeallthesearrangementsjustsoyou’dstayaweekmore?

           "Ihateyou,Ihateyou."

           I’llgiveyoumyword,Isaid.Whenthetime’supyoucangoassoonasyoulike.

           Shewouldn’thaveit.Itwasfunny,shesattherecryingandstaringatme,herfacewasallpink.Ithoughtshewasgoingtocomeatmeagain,shelookedasifshewantedto.Butthenshebegantodryhereyes.Thenshelitacigarette.Andthenshesaid,"Twoweeks."

           Isaid,yousaytwo,Isayfive.I’llagreetoamonth.That’dbeNovemberthefourteenth.

           Therewasapause,andshesaid,"FourweeksisNovembertheeleventh."

           Iwasworriedabouther,Iwantedtoclinchit,soIsaid,Imeantacalendarmonth,butmakeittwenty-eightdays.I’llgiveyoutheoddthreedays,Isaid.

           "Thankyouverymuch."Sarcastic,ofcourse.

           Ihandedheracupofcoffee,whichshetook.

           "I’vesomeconditionstoo,"shesaidbeforeshedrunkit."Ican’tliveallthetimedownhere.Imusthavesomefreshairandlight.Imusthaveabathsometimes.Imusthavesomedrawingmaterials.Imusthavearadioorarecord-player.Ineedthingsfromthechemist.Imusthavefreshfruitandsalads.Imusthavesomesortofexercise."