Сумерки

           Ibegantorealizeweweredrivingveryfast;thecarmovedsosteadily,soevenly,though,Ididn’tfeelthespeed.Onlythetownflashingbygaveitaway.

           "Whatisyourmotherlike?"heaskedmesuddenly.

           Iglancedovertoseehimstudyingmewithcuriouseyes.

           "Shelooksalotlikeme,butshe’sprettier,"Isaid.Heraisedhiseyebrows."IhavetoomuchCharlieinme.She’smoreoutgoingthanIam,andbraver.She’sirresponsibleandslightlyeccentric,andshe’saveryunpredictablecook.She’smybestfriend."Istopped.Talkingaboutherwasmakingmedepressed.

           "Howoldareyou,Bella?"HisvoicesoundedfrustratedforsomereasonIcouldn’timagine.He’dstoppedthecar,andIrealizedwewereatCharlie’shousealready.TherainwassoheavythatIcouldbarelyseethehouseatall.Itwaslikethecarwassubmergedunderariver.

           "I’mseventeen,"Iresponded,alittleconfused.

           "Youdon’tseemseventeen."

           Histonewasreproachful;itmademelaugh.

           "What?"heasked,curiousagain.

           "MymomalwayssaysIwasbornthirty-fiveyearsoldandthatIgetmoremiddle-agedeveryyear."Ilaughed,andthensighed."Well,someonehastobetheadult."Ipausedforasecond."Youdon’tseemmuchlikeajuniorinhighschoolyourself,"Inoted.

           Hemadeafaceandchangedthesubject.

           "SowhydidyourmothermarryPhil?"

           Iwassurprisedhewouldrememberthename;I’dmentioneditjustonce,almosttwomonthsago.Ittookmeamomenttoanswer.

           "Mymother...she’sveryyoungforherage.IthinkPhilmakesherfeelevenyounger.