Девять рассказов
A Perfect Day for Bananafish
Theyhavetoknowaboutyourchildhood-allthatstuff.Itoldyou,wecouldhardlytalk,itwassonoisyinthere."
"Well.How’syourbluecoat?"
"Allright.Ihadsomeofthepaddingtakenout."
"Howaretheclothesthisyear?"
"Terrible.Butoutofthisworld.Youseesequins-everything,"saidthegirl.
"How’syourroom?"
"Allright.Justallright,though.Wecouldn’tgettheroomwehadbeforethewar,"saidthegirl."Thepeopleareawfulthisyear.Youshouldseewhatsitsnexttousinthediningroom.Atthenexttable.Theylookasiftheydrovedowninatruck."
"Well,it’sthatwayallover.How’syourballerina?"
"It’stoolong.Itoldyouitwastoolong."
"Muriel,I’monlygoingtoaskyouoncemore-areyoureallyallright?"
"Yes,Mother,"saidthegirl."Fortheninetiethtime."
"Andyoudon’twanttocomehome?"
"No,Mother."
"Yourfathersaidlastnightthathe’dbemorethanwillingtopayforitifyou’dgoawaysomeplacebyyourselfandthinkthingsover.Youcouldtakealovelycruise.Weboththought-"
"No,thanks,"saidthegirl,anduncrossedherlegs."Mother,thiscalliscostingafor-"
"WhenIthinkofhowyouwaitedforthatboyallthroughthewar—Imeanwhenyouthinkofallthosecrazylittlewiveswho-"
"Mother,"saidthegirl,"we’dbetterhangup.Seymourmaycomeinanyminute."
"Whereishe?"
"Onthebeach."
"Onthebeach?Byhimself?Doeshebehavehimselfonthebeach?"
"Mother,"saidthegirl,"youtalkabouthimasthoughhewerearavingmaniac-"
"Isaidnothingofthekind,Muriel."
