Девять рассказов
Just Before the War with the Eskimos
"Ihavetheconstitutionof—"
AsSelenaenteredtheroom,Ginniestoodupquicklyandwenttomeetherhalfway.Selenahadchangedfromhershortstoadress,afactthatordinarilywouldhaveannoyedGinnie.
"I’msorryto’vekeptyouwaiting,"Selenasaidinsincerely,"butIhadtowaitforMothertowakeup....Hello,Eric."
"Hello,hello!"
"Idon’twantthemoneyanyway,"Ginniesaid,keepinghervoicedownsothatshewasheardonlybySelena.
"What?"
"I’vebeenthinking.Imeanyoubringthetennisballsandall,allthetime.Iforgotaboutthat."
"ButyousaidthatbecauseIdidn’thavetopayforthem—"
"Walkmetothedoor,"Ginniesaid,leadingtheway,withoutsayinggoodbyetoEric.
"ButIthoughtyousaidyouweregoingtothemoviestonightandyouneededthemoneyandall!"Selenasaidinthefoyer.
"I’mtootired,"Ginniesaid.Shebentoverandpickeduphertennisparaphernalia."Listen.I’llgiveyouaringafterdinner.Areyoudoinganythingspecialtonight?MaybeIcancomeover."
Selenastaredandsaid,"O.K."
Ginnieopenedthefrontdoorandwalkedtotheelevator.Sherangthebell."Imetyourbrother,"shesaid.
"Youdid?Isn’theacharacter?"
"What’shedo,anyway?"Ginnieaskedcasually."Doesheworkorsomething?"
"Hejustquit.Daddywantshimtogobacktocollege,buthewon’tgo."
"Whywon’the?"
"Idon’tknow.Hesayshe’stoooldandall."
"Howoldishe?"
"Idon’tknow.Twenty-four."
Theelevatordoorsopened."I’llcallyoulaterl"Ginniesaid
