Девять рассказов
Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut
"No,Iwouldn’t!ImeanIwouldn’ttellany—"
"Oh,"saidEloise,"hisregimentwasrestingsomeplace.Itwasbetweenbattlesorsomething,thisfriendofhissaidthatwroteme.WaltandsomeotherboywereputtingthislittleJapanesestoveinapackage.Somecolonelwantedtosendithome.Ortheyweretakingitoutofthepackagetorewrapit—Idon’tknowexactly.Anyway,itwasallfullofgasolineandjunkanditexplodedintheirfaces.Theotherboyjustlostaneye."Eloisebegantocry.Sheputherhandaroundtheemptyglassonherchesttosteadyit.
MaryJaneslidoffthecouchand,onherknees,tookthreestepsovertoEloiseandbegantostrokeherforehead."Don’tcry,El.Don’tcry."
"Who’scrying?"Eloisesaid.
"Iknow,butdon’t.Imeanitisn’tworthitoranything.
Thefrontdooropened.
"That’sRamonaback,"Eloisesaidnasally."Domeafavor.Gooutinthekitchenandtellwhosistogiveherherdinnerearly.Willya?"
"Allright,ifyoupromisenottocry,though."
"Ipromise.Goon.Idon’tfeellikegoingouttothatdamnkitchenrightthisminute."
MaryJanestoodup,losingandrecoveringherbalance,andlefttheroom.
Shewasbackinlessthantwominutes,withRamonarunningaheadofher.Ramonaranasflatfootedaspossible,tryingtogetthemaximumnoiseoutofheropengaloshes.
"Shewouldn’tletmetakehergaloshesoff,"MaryJanesaid.
Eloise,stilllyingonherbackonthefloor,wasusingherhandkerchief.Shespokeintoit,addressingRamona."GooutandtellGracetotakeyourgaloshesoff.
