Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           We’dwaituntildark,setamattressonfire,andwhenthefiremencamewe’drushhimoutthedoor.Itseemedsuchafineplanwecouldn’tseehowhecouldrefuse.

           Butwedidn’tthinkaboutitsbeingthedayhe’dmadeadatetohavethegirl,Candy,sneakontothewardforBilly.

           Theybroughthimbacktothewardaboutteninthemorning—"Fullapissan’vinegar,buddies;theycheckedmyplugsandcleanedmypoints,andIgotaglowonlikeaModelTsparkcoil.EveruseoneofthosecoilsaroundHalloweentime?Zam!Goodcleanfun."Andhebattedaroundthewardbiggerthanever,spilledabucketofmopwaterundertheNurses’Stationdoor,laidapatofbuttersquareonthetoeoftheleastblackboy’swhitesuedeshoeswithouttheblackboynoticing,andsmotheredgigglesallthroughlunchwhileitmeltedtoshowacolorHardingreferredtoasa"mostsuggestiveyellow,"—biggerthanever,andeachtimehebrushedclosebyastudentnurseshegaveayipandrolledhereyesandpitter-pattedoffdownthehall,rubbingherflank.

           Wetoldhimofourplanforhisescape,andhetoldustherewasnohurryandremindedusofBilly’sdate."Wecan’tdisappointBillyBoy,canwe,buddies?Notwhenhe’sabouttocashinhischerry.Anditshouldbeanicelittlepartytonightifwecanpullitoff;let’ssaymaybeit’smygoing-awayparty."

           ItwastheBigNurse’sweekendtowork—shedidn’twanttomisshisreturn—andshedecidedwe’dbetterhaveusameetingtogetsomethingsettled.