Девять рассказов

           "Who’sJimmy?"MaryJaneaskedEloise.

           "Oh,God!Herbeau.Goeswhereshegoes.Doeswhatshedoes.Allveryhoopla."

           "Really?"saidMaryJaneenthusiastically.Sheleanedforward."Doyouhaveabeau,Ramona?"

           Ramona’seyes,behindthick,counter-myopialenses,didnotreflecteventhesmallestpartofMaryJane’senthusiasm.

           "MaryJaneaskedyouaquestion,Ramona,"Eloisesaid.

           Ramonainsertedafingerintohersmall,broadnose.

           "Stopthat,"Eloisesaid."MaryJaneaskedyouifyouhaveabeau."

           "Yes,"saidRamona,busywithhernose.

           "Ramona,"Eloisesaid."Cutthatout.Butimmediately."

           Ramonaputherhanddown.

           "Well,Ithinkthat’sjustwonderful,"MaryJanesaid."What’shisname?Willyoutellmehisname,Ramona?Orisitabigsecret?"

           "Jimmy,"Ramonasaid.

           "Jimmy?Oh,IlovethenameJimmy!Jimmywhat,Ramona?"

           "JimmyJimmereeno,"saidRamona.

           "Standstill,"saidEloise.

           "Well!That’squiteaname.WhereisJimmy?Willyoutellme,Ramona?"

           "Here,"saidRamona.

           MaryJanelookedaround,thenlookedbackatRamona,smilingasprovocativelyaspossible."Herewhere,honey?"

           "Here,"saidRamona."I’mholdinghishand."

           "Idon’tgetit,"MaryJanesaidtoEloise,whowasfinishingherdrink.

           "Don’tlookatme,"saidEloise.

           MaryJanelookedbackatRamona."Oh,Isee.Jimmy’sjustamake-believelittleboy.Marvellous."MaryJaneleanedforwardcordially."Howdoyoudo,Jimmy?"shesaid.

           "Hewon’ttalktoyou,"saidEloise."Ramona,tellMaryJaneaboutJimmy."

           "Tellherwhat?"

           "Standup,please....TellMaryJanehowJimmylooks."