Коллекционер

           Therewasallthesickonthefloor.IrememberedAuntAnniesaidwithappendicitisitcouldkill,onlyayearbacktheboynextdoorgotit,andshesaidthentheywaitedtoolong—AuntAnnieknewallthetime,anditwasawonderheneverdied.SoIhadtodosomething.

           Isaid,there’sahousewithatelephonedownthelane.I’llrundown.

           "Takemetohospital,"shesaid."It’ssaferforyou."

           What’sitmatter,Isaid,likeIwasreallyindespair.It’stheend.It’sgoodbye,Isaid.Untilthepolicecourt.Icouldacttoo.

           ThenIrushedoutlikeIwasveryupset.Ileftthedooropen,andtheouterdoor,andIjustwaitedthere.

           Andoutshecame,inaminute.NomoreillthanIwas.Notrouble,shejustgavemeonelookandwentonbackdown.Ilookednastyjusttogiveherascare.

           ShehadmoodsthatchangedsoquickthatIoftengotleftbehind.Shelikedtogetmestumblingafterher(asshesaidoneday—poorCaliban,alwaysstumblingafterMiranda,shesaid),sometimesshewouldcallmeCaliban,sometimesFerdinand.Sometimesshewouldbenastyandcutting.ShewouldsneeratmeandmimicmeandmakemedesperateandaskmequestionsIcouldn’tanswer.Thenothertimesshewouldbereallysympathetic,IfeltsheunderstoodmelikenoonesinceUncleDick,andIcouldputupwitheverything.

           Irememberalotoflittlethings.