Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Shekeepsthisupforyears.Thedoctorslastthreeweeks,threemonths.Untilshefinallysettlesforalittlemanwithabigwideforeheadandwidejewlycheeksandsqueezednarrowacrosshistinyeyeslikeheonceworeglassesthatwerewaytoosmall,worethemforsolongtheycrimpedhisfaceinthemiddle,sonowhehasglassesonastringtohiscollarbutton;theyteeteronthepurplebridgeofhislittlenoseandtheyarealwaysslippingonesideortheothersohe’lltiphisheadwhenhetalksjusttokeephisglasseslevel.That’sherdoctor.

           Herthreedaytimeblackboyssheacquiresaftermoreyearsoftestingandrejectingthousands.Theycomeatherinalongblackrowofsulky,big-nosedmasks,hatingherandherchalkdollwhitenessfromthefirstlooktheyget.Sheappraisesthemandtheirhateforamonthorso,thenletsthemgobecausetheydon’thateenough.Whenshefinallygetsthethreeshewants—getsthemoneatatimeoveranumberofyears,weavingthemintoherplanandhernetwork—she’sdamnpositivetheyhateenoughtobecapable.

           ThefirstoneshegetsfiveyearsafterIbeenontheward,atwistedsinewydwarfthecolorofcoldasphalt.HismotherwasrapedinGeorgiawhilehispapastoodbytiedtothehotironstovewithplowtraces,bloodstreamingintohisshoes.Theboywatchedfromacloset,fiveyearsoldandsquintinghiseyetopeepoutthecrackbetweenthedoorandthejamb,andhenevergrewaninchafter.Nowhiseyelidshanglooseandthinfromhisbrowlikehe’sgotabatperchedonthebridgeofhisnose.Eyelidslikethingrayleather,heliftsthemupjustabitwheneveranewwhitemancomesontheward,peeksoutfromunderthemandstudiesthemanupanddownandnodsjustoncelikehe’sohyesmadepositivecertainofsomethinghewasalreadysureof.