Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 4
IwashappieronthelawnsbecauseIhadonshoesfromEnglandwithrubbernobsonthesolesthatbitintothesoftground.Ihadonanewplaidskirtalsothatblewalittleinthewind,andwheneverthishappenedthered,white,andbluebannersinfrontofallthehousesstretchedoutstiffandsaidtut-tut-tut-tut,inadisapprovingway.
ThelargestofthebannersandthelargestofthelawnsbelongedtoDaisyFay’shouse.Shewasjusteighteen,twoyearsolderthanme,andbyfarthemostpopularofalltheyounggirlsinLouisville.Shedressedinwhite,andhadalittlewhiteroadster,andalldaylongthetelephoneranginherhouseandexcitedyoungofficersfromCampTaylordemandedtheprivilegeofmonopolizingherthatnight."Anyways,foranhour!"
WhenIcameoppositeherhousethatmorningherwhiteroadsterwasbesidethecurb,andshewassittinginitwithalieutenantIhadneverseenbefore.Theyweresoengrossedineachotherthatshedidn’tseemeuntilIwasfivefeetaway.
"Hello,Jordan,"shecalledunexpectedly."Pleasecomehere."
Iwasflatteredthatshewantedtospeaktome,becauseofalltheoldergirlsIadmiredhermost.SheaskedmeifIwasgoingtotheRedCrossandmakebandages.Iwas.Well,then,wouldItellthemthatshecouldn’tcomethatday?TheofficerlookedatDaisywhileshewasspeaking,inawaythateveryyounggirlwantstobelookedatsometime,andbecauseitseemedromantictomeIhaverememberedtheincidenteversince.HisnamewasJayGatsby,andIdidn’tlayeyesonhimagainforoverfouryears—evenafterI’dmethimonLongIslandIdidn’trealizeitwasthesameman.
Thatwasnineteen-seventeen.BythenextyearIhadafewbeauxmyself,andIbegantoplayintournaments,soIdidn’tseeDaisyveryoften.
