Чужак в чужой стране

           Ben,Iwasworried,too,whenmytimecame–butdon’tyoubeworried,dear,becauseMichaeldoesnotmakemistakes.Youbelonghereoryouwouldn’tbehere.You’regoingtostay?"

           "Uh,Ican’t.Readyforthefirstinstallment?"

           "Pourthemin.Thenyou’llbeback.Andsomedayyou’llstay.Dukeiscorrect–SamandIpole-vaulted?anditwasalmosttoofastforamiddle-aged,primandproperhousewife."

           "Middle-aged?"

           "Ben,oneofthebonusesaboutthedisciplineisthatasitstraightensoutyoursoul,yourbodystraightensout,too.That’samatterinwhichtheChristianScientistsarepreciselyright.Noticeanymedicinebottlesinanyofthebathrooms?"

           "Uh,no."

           "Therearen’tany.Howmanypeoplehavekissedyou?"

           "Several,atleast."

           "AsapriestessIkissalotmorethan‘several,’believeme.Butthere’sneversomuchasasniffleintheNest.Iusedtobethesortofwhinywomanwhoisneverquitewellandgivento‘femalecomplaints.’"Shesmiled."NowI’mmorefemalethaneverbutI’mtwentypoundslighterandyearsyoungerandhavenothingtocomplainabout–Ilikebeingfemale.AsDukeflatteredme,‘aLevantinewhore’andunquestionablymuchmorelimberthanIwas–IalwayssitinthelotuspositionwhenI’mteachingaclass,whereasitusedtobeallIcoulddojusttosquatdownandstraightenupagain?hotflashesanddizziness.

           "Butitdidhappenfast,"Ruthwenton."SamwasaprofessorofOrientallanguagesattheUniversityhere–thecityU.,thatis.