Сумерки

           Charlie,unusedtospendingtimeintheusuallyemptyhouse,workedmostoftheweekend.Icleanedthehouse,gotaheadonmyhomework,andwrotemymommoreboguslycheerfule-mail.IdiddrivetothelibrarySaturday,butitwassopoorlystockedthatIdidn’tbothertogetacard;IwouldhavetomakeadatetovisitOlympiaorSeattlesoonandfindagoodbookstore.Iwonderedidlywhatkindofgasmileagethetruckgot...andshudderedatthethought.

           Therainstayedsoftovertheweekend,quiet,soIwasabletosleepwell.

           PeoplegreetedmeintheparkinglotMondaymorning.Ididn’tknowalltheirnames,butIwavedbackandsmiledateveryone.Itwascolderthismorning,buthappilynotraining.InEnglish,Miketookhisaccustomedseatbymyside.WehadapopquizonWutheringHeights.Itwasstraightforward,veryeasy.

           Allinall,IwasfeelingalotmorecomfortablethanIhadthoughtIwouldfeelbythispoint.MorecomfortablethanIhadeverexpectedtofeelhere.

           Whenwewalkedoutofclass,theairwasfullofswirlingbitsofwhite.Icouldhearpeopleshoutingexcitedlytoeachother.Thewindbitatmycheeks,mynose.

           "Wow,"Mikesaid."It’ssnowing."

           Ilookedatthelittlecottonfluffsthatwerebuildingupalongthesidewalkandswirlingerraticallypastmyface.

           "Ew."Snow.Therewentmygoodday.

           Helookedsurprised."Don’tyoulikesnow?"

           "No.Thatmeansit’stoocoldforrain."Obviously."Besides,Ithoughtitwassupposedtocomedowninflakes-youknow,eachoneuniqueandallthat.ThesejustlookliketheendsofQ-tips."