Девять рассказов

           "Hehasgreeneyesandblackhair."

           "Whatelse?"

           "Nomommyandnodaddy."

           "Whatelse?"

           "Nofreckles."

           "Whatelse?"

           "Asword."

           "Whatelse?"

           "Idon’tknow,"saidRamona,andbegantoscratchherselfagain.

           "Hesoundsbeautiful!"MaryJanesaid,andleanedevenfartherforwardinherchair."Ramona.Tellme.DidJimmytakeoffhisgaloshes,too,whenyoucamein?"

           "Hehasboots,"Ramonasaid.

           "Marvellous,"MaryJanesaidtoEloise.

           "Youjustthinkso.Igetitalldaylong.Jimmyeatswithher.Takesabathwithher.Sleepswithher.Shesleepswayovertoonesideofthebed,so’snottorolloverandhurthim."

           Lookingabsorbedanddelightedwiththisinformation,MaryJanetookinherlowerlip,thenreleasedittoask,"Where’dhegetthatname,though?"

           "JimmyJimmereeno?Godknows."

           "Probablyfromsomelittleboyintheneighborhood."

           Eloise,yawning,shookherhead."Therearenolittleboysintheneighborhood.Nochildrenatall.TheycallmeFertileFannybehindmy—"

           "Mommy,"Ramonasaid,"canIgooutandplay?"

           Eloiselookedather."Youjustcamein,"shesaid.

           "Jimmywantstogooutagain."

           "Why,mayIask?"

           "Helefthisswordoutside."

           "Oh,himandhisgoddamsword,"Eloisesaid."Well.Goahead.Putyourgaloshesbackon."

           "CanIhavethis?"Ramonasaid,takingaburnedmatchoutoftheashtray.

           "MayIhavethis.Yes.Stayoutofthestreet,please."

           "Goodbye,Ramona!"MaryJanesaidmusically.

           "Bye,"saidRamona."C’mon,Jimmy."

           Eloiselungedsuddenlytoherfeet."Gimmeyourglass,"shesaid.

           "No,really,El.I’msupposedtobeinLarchmont.