Сумерки

           "Sothat’sall,"Iinsisted,wonderingwhyhewasstillstaringatmethatway.

           Hisgazebecameappraising."Youputonagoodshow,"hesaidslowly."ButI’dbewillingtobetthatyou’resufferingmorethanyouletanyonesee."

           Igrimacedathim,resistingtheimpulsetostickoutmytonguelikeafive-year-old,andlookedaway.

           "AmIwrong?"

           Itriedtoignorehim.

           "Ididn’tthinkso,"hemurmuredsmugly.

           "Whydoesitmattertoyou?"Iasked,irritated.Ikeptmyeyesaway,watchingtheteachermakehisrounds.

           "That’saverygoodquestion,"hemuttered,soquietlythatIwonderedifhewastalkingtohimself.However,afterafewsecondsofsilence,IdecidedthatwastheonlyanswerIwasgoingtoget.

           Isighed,scowlingattheblackboard.

           "AmIannoyingyou?"heasked.Hesoundedamused.

           Iglancedathimwithoutthinking...andtoldthetruthagain."Notexactly.I’mmoreannoyedatmyself.Myfaceissoeasytoread-mymotheralwayscallsmeheropenbook."Ifrowned.

           "Onthecontrary,Ifindyouverydifficulttoread."DespiteeverythingthatI’dsaidandhe’dguessed,hesoundedlikehemeantit.

           "Youmustbeagoodreaderthen,"Ireplied.

           "Usually."Hesmiledwidely,flashingasetofperfect,ultrawhiteteeth.

           Mr.Bannercalledtheclasstoorderthen,andIturnedwithrelieftolisten.IwasindisbeliefthatI’djustexplainedmydrearylifetothisbizarre,beautifulboywhomayormaynotdespiseme.