Пятьдесят оттенков серого

           ACheshirecatgrinspreadsovermyface.It’sprobablythefirsttimeallweekthatI’vesmiled.It’sFriday,andweshallbecelebratingtonight,reallycelebrating.Imightevengetdrunk!I’veneverbeendrunkbefore.IglanceacrossthehallatKate,andshe’sstillscribblingfuriously,fiveminutestothefinish.Thisisit,theendofmyacademiccareer.Ishallneverhavetositinrowsofanxious,isolatedstudentsagain.InsideI’mdoinggracefulcartwheelsaroundmyhead,knowingfullwellthat’stheonlyplaceIcandogracefulcartwheels.Katestopswritingandputsherpendown.Sheglancesacrossatme,andIcatchherCheshirecatsmile,too.

           WeheadbacktoourapartmenttogetherinherMercedes,refusingtodiscussourfinalpaper.Kateismoreconcernedaboutwhatshe’sgoingtoweartothebarthisevening.Iambusilyfishingaroundinmypurseformykeys.

           “Ana,there’sapackageforyou.”Kateisstandingonthestepsuptothefrontdoorholdingabrownpaperparcel.Odd.Ihaven’torderedanythingfromAmazonrecently.Kategivesmetheparcelandtakesmykeystoopenthefrontdoor.It’saddressedtoMissAnastasiaSteele.There’snosender’saddressorname.Perhapsit’sfrommymomorRay.

           “It’sprobablyfrommyfolks.”

           “Openit!”Kateisexcitedassheheadsintothekitchenforourexams-are-finished-hurrahchampagne.

           Iopentheparcel,andinsideIfindahalfleatherboxcontainingthreeseeminglyidenticaloldcloth-coveredbooksinmintconditionandaplainwhitecard.