Девять рассказов
A Perfect Day for Bananafish
Youprobablywon’tbelievethis,butsomelittlegirlsliketopokethatlittledogwithballoonsticks,Sharondoesn’t.She’snevermeanorunkind.That’swhyIlikehersomuch."
Sybilwassilent.
"Iliketochewcandles,"shesaidfinally.
"Whodoesn’t?"saidtheyoungman,gettinghisfeetwet."Wow!It’scold."Hedroppedtherubberfloatonitsback."No,waitjustasecond,Sybil.Wait’llwegetoutalittlebit."
TheywadedouttillthewaterwasuptoSybil’swaist.Thentheyoungmanpickedherupandlaidherdownonherstomachonthefloat.
"Don’tyoueverwearabathingcaporanything?"heasked.
"Don’tletgo,"Sybilordered."Youholdme,now."
"MissCarpenter.Please.Iknowmybusiness,"theyoungmansaid."Youjustkeepyoureyesopenforanybananafish.Thisisaperfectdayforbananafish."
"Idon’tseeany,"Sybilsaid.
"That’sunderstandable.Theirhabitsareverypeculiar."Hekeptpushingthefloat.Thewaterwasnotquiteuptohischest."Theyleadaverytragiclife,"hesaid."Youknowwhattheydo,Sybil?"
Sheshookherhead.
"Well,theyswimintoaholewherethere’salotofbananas.They’reveryordinary-lookingfishwhentheyswimin.Butoncetheygetin,theybehavelikepigs.Why,I’veknownsomebananafishtoswimintoabananaholeandeatasmanyasseventy-eightbananas"Heedgedthefloatanditspassengerafootclosertothehorizon."Naturally,afterthatthey’resofattheycan’tgetoutoftheholeagain.Can’tfitthroughthedoor."
"Nottoofarout,"Sybilsaid.
