Ход королевы
Chapter 5
EventhoughitwasamildeveninginMarch,abigfireburnedunderthewhitemantel.FourteengirlsweresittingonthewhitesofasandcoloredwingbackchairswhenBetharrivedinhernewdress.Mostoftheotherswerewearingsweatersandskirts.“Itwasreallysomething,”oneofthemsaid,“tofindafacefromFairfieldJuniorHighinLife.Inearlyflipped!”butwhenBethstartedtotalkaboutthetournaments,thegirlsinterruptedhertoaskabouttheboysatthem.Weretheygood-looking?Didshedateanyofthem?WhenBethsaid,“There’snotmuchtimeforthat,”thegirlschangedthesubject.
Foranhourormoretheytalkedaboutboysanddatingandclothes,veeringerraticallyfromcoolsophisticationtogiggles,whileBethsatuneasilyatoneendofasofaholdingacrystalglassofCoca-Cola,unabletothinkofanythingtosay.Then,atnineo’clock,Margaretturnedonthehugetelevisionsetbythefireplaceandtheywereallquiet,exceptforanoccasionalgiggle,whilethe“MovieoftheWeek”cameon.
Bethsatthroughit,notparticipatinginthegossipandlaughterduringthecommercials,untilitendedateleven.Shewasastoundedatthedullnessoftheevening.ThiswastheeliteApplePiClubthathadseemedsoimportantwhenshefirstwenttoschoolinLexington,andthiswaswhattheydidattheirsophisticatedparties:theywatchedaCharlesBronsonmovie.TheonlybreakinthedullnesswaswhenagirlnamedFeliciasaid,“Iwonderifhe’saswell-hungashelooks.”Bethlaughedatthat,butitwastheonlythingshelaughedat.
