Девять рассказов
Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes
WhatIwouldliketodo,though,ifit’satallhumanlypossible,I’dliketohelpyou,boy."Helistened."Arthur?Youthere?"
"Yeah.I’mhere.Listen.I’vekeptyouawakeallnightanyway.CouldIcomeovertoyourplaceforadrink?Wouldjamind?"
Thegray-hairedmanstraightenedhisbackandplacedtheflatofhisfreehandonthetopofhishead,andsaid,"Now,doyoumean?"
"Yeah.Imeanifit’sallrightwithyou.I’llonlystayaminute.I’djustliketositdownsomewhereand—Idon’tknow.Woulditbeallright?"
"Yeah,butthepointisIdon’tthinkyoushould,Arthur,"thegray-hairedmansaid,loweringhishandfromhishead."Imeanyou’remorethanwelcometocome,butIhonestlythinkyoushouldjustsittightandrelaxtillJoaniewaltzesin.Ihonestlydo.Whatyouwanttobe,youwanttoberightthereonthespotwhenshewaltzesin.AmIright,ornot?"
"Yeah.Idon’tknow.IsweartoGod,Idon’tknow."
"Well,Ido,Ihonestlydo,"thegray-hairedmansaid."Look.Whydon’tyouhopinbednow,andrelax,andthenlater,ifyoufeellikeit,givemearing.Imeanifyoufeelliketalking.Anddon’tworry.That’sthemainthing.Hearme?Willyadothatnow?"
"Allright."
Thegray-hairedmancontinuedforamomenttoholdthephonetohisear,thenlowereditintoitscradle.
"Whatdidhesay?"thegirlimmediatelyaskedhim.Hepickedhiscigaretteoutoftheashtray—thatis,selecteditfromanaccumulationofsmokedandhalfsmokedcigarettes.Hedraggedonitandsaid,"Hewantedtocomeoverhereforadrink."
