Кладбище домашних животных

33

           Thefuneraldirectorandhishuskysonstoodbesideit,watchingthem,readytolendahandifanyone(herbrother,perhaps)shouldsliporflag.

           Judstoodbesidehimandwatchedastheyslidthecoffininside.

           "Goodbye,Norma,"hesaidandlitacigarette."I’llseeyouinawhile,oldgirl."

           LouisslippedanarmaroundJud’sshoulders,andNorma’sbrotherstoodclosebyonhisotherside,crowdingthemorticianandhissonintothebackground.Theburlynephews(orsecondcousins,orwhatevertheywere)hadalreadydoneafade,thesimplejobofliftingandcarryingdone.Theyhadgrowndistantfromthispartofthefamily;theyhadknownthewoman’sfacefromphotographsandafewdutyvisitsperhapslongafternoonsspentintheparloreatingNorma’scookiesanddrinkingJud’sbeer,perhapsnotreallymindingtheoldstoriesoftimestheyhadnotlivedthroughandpeopletheyhadnotknown,butawareofthingstheycouldhavebeendoingallthesame(acarthatcouldhavebeenwashedandTurtle-waxed,aleaguebowlingpractice,maybejustsittingaroundtheTVandwatchingaboxingmatchwithsomefriends),andgladtobeawaywhenthedutywasdone.

           Jud’spartofthefamilywasinthepastnow,asfarastheywereconcerned;itwaslikeanerodedplanetoiddriftingawayfromthemainmass,dwindling,littlemorethanaspeck.Thepast.Picturesinanalbum.

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