Девять рассказов
Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut
Youknowyou’renotsupposedtocomeintothe—"
"She’sinthelavatory,"Ramonasaid.
Eloiseputawayherhandkerchiefandhoistedherselftoasittingposition."Gimmeyourfoot,"shesaid."Sitdown,first,please....Notthere—here.God!"
Onherknees,lookingunderthetableforhercigarettes,MaryJanesaid,"Hey.GuesswhathappenedtoJimmy."
"Noidea.Otherfoot.Otherfoot."
"Hegotrunnedover,"saidMaryJane."Isn’tthattragic?"
"IsawSkipperwithabone,"RamonatoldEloise.
"WhathappenedtoJimmy?"Eloisesaidtoher.
"Hegotrunnedoverandkilled.IsawSkipperwithabone,andhewouldn’t—"
"Gimmeyourforeheadasecond,"Eloisesaid.ShereachedoutandfeltRamona’sforehead."Youfeelalittlefeverish.GotellGraceyou’retohaveyourdinnerupstairs.Thenyou’retogostraighttobed.I’llbeuplater.Goon,now,please.Takethesewithyou."
Ramonaslowlygiant-steppedherwayoutoftheroom.
"Throwmeone,"EloisesaidtoMaryJane."Let’shaveanotherdrink."
MaryJanecarriedacigaretteovertoEloise."Isn’tthatsomething?AboutJimmy?Whatanimagination!"
"Mm.Yougogetthedrinks,huh?Andbringthebottle...Idon’twannagooutthere.Thewholedamnplacesmellslikeorangejuice."
Atfiveminutespastseven,thephonerang.Eloisegotupfromthewindowseatandfeltinthedarkforhershoes.Shecouldn’tfindthem.Inherstockingfeet,shewalkedsteadily,almostlanguidly,towardthephone.Theringingdidn’tdisturbMaryJane,whowasasleeponthecouch,facedown.
