Девять рассказов
For Esmé with Love and Squalor
IamquitecertainthatyouwilluseittogreateradvantageinthesedifficultdaysthanIevercanandthatyouwillacceptitasaluckytalisman.
Charles,whomIamteachingtoreadandwriteandwhomIamfindinganextremelyintelligentnovice,wishestoaddafewwords.Pleasewriteassoonasyouhavethetimeandinclination.
HELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOLOVEANDKISSESCHALES
ItwasalongtimebeforeXcouldsetthenoteaside,letaloneliftEsme’sfather’swristwatchoutofthebox.Whenhedidfinallyliftitout,hesawthatitscrystalhadbeenbrokenintransit.Hewonderedifthewatchwasotherwiseundamaged,buthehadn’tthecouragetowinditandfindout.Hejustsatwithitinhishandforanotherlongperiod.Then,suddenly,almostecstatically,hefeltsleepy.
Youtakeareallysleepyman,Esme,andhealwaysstandsachanceofagainbecomingamanwithallhisfac-withallhisf-a-c-u-l-t-i-e-sintact.
