Коллекционер

           Evenwhenshedidthingsconsideredugly,likeyawningorstretching,shemadeitseempretty.Thetruthwasshecouldn’tdouglythings.Shewastoobeautiful.

           Shewasalwayssoclean,too.Sheneversmeltanythingbutsweetandfresh,unlikesomewomenIcouldmention.ShehateddirtasmuchasIdo,althoughsheusedtolaughatmeaboutit.Shetoldmeonceitwasasignofmadnesstowanteverythingclean.Ifthatisso,thenwemustbothhavebeenmad.

           Ofcourseitwasn’tallpeaceandlight,severaltimesshetriedtoescape,whichjustshowed.LuckilyIwasalwaysonthelook-out.

           Onedayshenearlyhadme.Shewasdeadcunning,whenIwentinshewasbeingsick,andshelookedarealmess.Ikeptonsayingwhat’swrong,what’swrong,butshejustlaytherelikeshewasinpain.

           "It’sappendicitis,"shegotoutintheend.

           Howdoyouknow,Iasked.

           "IthoughtI’ddieinthenight,"shesaid.Shespokelikeshehardlycould.

           Isaiditcouldbeotherthings.

           Butshejustturnedherfacetothewallandsaid,Oh,God.

           Well,whenIgotovertheshock,Isawitmightbejusthergame.

           Thenextthingwasshewasalldoubleduplikeinaspasmandthenshesatupandlookedatmeandsaidshewouldpromiseanythingbutshemusthaveadoctor.Orgotohospital,shesaid.

           It’stheendforme,Isaid.You’dtellthem.

           "Ipromise,Ipromise,"shesaid.Reallyconvincing.Shecouldcertainlyact.

           I’llmakeyouacupoftea,Isaid.Iwantedtimetothink.Butshedoubledupagain.