Девять рассказов
Just Before the War with the Eskimos
Hesatupatriflestraighter—orrather,slumpedatrifleless.Helookedatsomeobjectontheothersideoftheroom.Analmostdreamyexpressioncameoverhisdisorderlyfeatures.Heinsertedthenailofhisuninjuredindexfingerintothecrevicebetweentwofrontteethand,removingafoodparticle,turnedtoGinnie."Jeatjet?"heasked.
"What?"
"Jeatlunchyet?"
Ginnieshookherhead."I’lleatwhenIgethome,"shesaid."MymotheralwayshaslunchreadyformewhenIgethome."
"Igotahalfachickensandwichinmyroom.Yawantit?Ididn’ttouchitoranything."
"No,thankyou.Really."
"Youjustplayedtennis,forChrissake.Aren’tchahungry?"
"Itisn’tthat,"saidGinnie,crossingherlegs."It’sjustthatmymotheralwayshaslunchreadywhenIgethome.ShegoesinsaneifI’mnothungry,Imean."
Selena’sbrotherseemedtoacceptthisexplanation.Atleast,henoddedandlookedaway.Butheturnedbacksuddenly."How’boutaglassamilk?"hesaid.
"No,thanks....Thankyou,though."
Absently,hebentoverandscratchedhisbareankle."What’sthenameofthisguyshe’smarrying?"heasked.
"Joan,youmean?"saidGinnie."DickHeffner."
Selena’sbrotherwentonscratchinghisankle.
"He’salieutenantcommanderintheNavy,"Ginniesaid.
"Bigdeal."
Ginniegiggled.Shewatchedhimscratchhisankletillitwasred.Whenhebegantoscratchoffaminorskineruptiononhiscalfwithhisfingernail,shestoppedwatching.
"WheredoyouknowJoanfrom?"sheasked."Ineversawyouatthehouseoranything."
