Девять рассказов
Just Before the War with the Eskimos
"MayIaskyourname?You’reafriendofFranklin’ssister,Itakeit?"
"We’reinthesameclass,"Ginniesaid,answeringonlyhissecondquestion.
"You’renotthefamousMaxinethatSelenatalksabout,areyou?"
"No,"Ginniesaid.
Theyoungmansuddenlybeganbrushingthecuffsofhistrouserswiththeflatofhishand."Iamdoghairsfromheadtofoot,"hesaid."MotherwenttoWashingtonovertheweekendandparkedherbeastinmyapartment.It’sreallyquitesweet.Butsuchnastyhabits.Doyouhaveadog?"
"No."
"Actually,Ithinkit’scrueltokeeptheminthecity."Hestoppedbrushing,satback,andlookedathiswristwatchagain."Ihaveneverknownthatboytobeontime.We’regoingtoseeCocteau’s’BeautyandtheBeast’andit’stheonefilmwhereyoureallyshouldgetthereontime.Imeanifyoudon’t,thewholecharmofitisgone.Haveyouseenit?"
"No."
"Oh,youmust!I’veseeniteighttimes.It’sabsolutelypuregenius,"hesaid."I’vebeentryingtogetFranklintoseeitformonths."Heshookhisheadhopelessly."Histaste.Duringthewar,webothworkedatthesamehorribleplace,andthatboywouldinsistondraggingmetothemostimpossiblepicturesintheworld.Wesawgangsterpictures,Westernpictures,musicals—"
"Didyouworkintheairplanefactory,too?"Ginnieasked.
"God,yes.Foryearsandyearsandyears.Let’snottalkaboutit,please."
"Youhaveabadheart,too?"
"Heavens,no.Knockwood."Herappedthearmofhischairtwice.
