Девять рассказов

           Hewasstaringdown,withhisslackmouthajar,athisinjuredfinger."What?"hesaid.

           "Howdidyoucutit?"

           "GoddamifIknow,"hesaid,hisinflectionimplyingthattheanswertothatquestionwashopelesslyobscure."Iwaslookin’forsomethinginthegoddamwastebasketanditwasfullarazorblades."

           "YouSelena’sbrother?"Ginnieasked.

           "Yeah.Christ,I’mbleedin’todeath.Stickaround.Imayneedagoddamtransfusion."

           "Didyouputanythingonit?"

           Selena’sbrothercarriedhiswoundslightlyforwardfromhischestandunveileditforGinnie’sbenefit."Justsomegoddamtoiletpaper,"hesaid."Stopsableeding.Likewhenyoucutyourselfshaving."HelookedatGinnieagain."Whoareyou?"heasked."Friendofthejerk’s?"

           "We’reinthesameclass."

           "Yeah?What’syourname?"

           "VirginiaMannox."

           "YouGinnie?"hesaid,squintingatherthroughhisglasses."YouGinnieMannox?"

           "Yes,"saidGinnie,uncrossingherlegs.

           Selena’sbrotherturnedbacktohisfinger,obviouslyforhimthetrueandonlyfocalpointintheroom."Iknowyoursister,"hesaiddispassionately."Goddamsnob."

           Ginniearchedherback.

           "Whois?"

           "Youheardme."

           "Sheisnotasnob!"

           "Thehellshe’snot,"saidSelena’sbrother.

           "Sheisnot!"

           "Thehellshe’snot.She’sthequeen.Queenofthegoddamsnobs."

           Ginniewatchedhimleftupandpeerunderthethickfoldsoftoiletpaperonhisfinger.

           "Youdon’tevenknowmysister."

           "HellIdon’t."

           "What’shername?What’sherfirstname?"Ginniedemanded.

           "Joan....JoantheSnob."

           Ginniewassilent.