Сумерки

           Withtheirremarkablegoodlooks,thestylewithwhichtheycarriedthemselves,theycouldhaveworndishragsandpulleditoff.Itseemedexcessiveforthemtohavebothlooksandmoney.ButasfarasIcouldtell,lifeworkedthatwaymostofthetime.Itdidn’tlookasifitboughtthemanyacceptancehere.

           No,Ididn’tfullybelievethat.Theisolationmustbetheirdesire;Icouldn’timagineanydoorthatwouldn’tbeopenedbythatdegreeofbeauty.

           TheylookedatmynoisytruckasIpassedthem,justlikeeveryoneelse.IkeptmyeyesstraightforwardandwasrelievedwhenIfinallywasfreeoftheschoolgrounds.

           TheThriftwaywasnotfarfromtheschool,justafewstreetssouth,offthehighway.Itwasnicetobeinsidethesupermarket;itfeltnormal.Ididtheshoppingathome,andIfellintothepatternofthefamiliartaskgladly.ThestorewasbigenoughinsidethatIcouldn’thearthetappingoftherainontherooftoremindmewhereIwas.

           WhenIgothome,Iunloadedallthegroceries,stuffingtheminwhereverIcouldfindanopenspace.IhopedCharliewouldn’tmind.Iwrappedpotatoesinfoilandstuckthemintheoventobake,coveredasteakinmarinadeandbalanceditontopofacartonofeggsinthefridge.

           WhenIwasfinishedwiththat,Itookmybookbagupstairs.Beforestartingmyhomework,Ichangedintoapairofdrysweats,pulledmydamphairupintoapony-tail,andcheckedmye-mailforthefirsttime.Ihadthreemessages.

           "Bella,"mymomwrote...

           Writemeassoonasyougetin.Tellmehowyourflightwas.