Поющие в терновнике

Chapter 1

Howtheymanagedtoberefreshedafterthekindofnighttheypassedwasbeyondher,buttheyseemedtothriveonit.

TheroomwhereMeggieandStuartsleptwasadingyandcheerlessplacefortwosmallchildren;paintedastuffybrownandflooredinbrownlinoleum,nopicturesonthewalls.Justliketheotherbedrooms.

Stuarthadturnedhimselfupsidedownandwasquiteinvisibleexceptforhislittlenightshirtedbottomstickingoutofthecoverswherehisheadoughttohavebeen;Feefoundhisheadtouchinghisknees,andasusualmarveledthathehadnotsuffocated.Sheslidherhandgingerlyacrossthesheetandstiffened.Wetagain!Well,itwouldhavetowaituntilthemorning,whennodoubtthepillowwouldbewet,too.Healwaysdidthat,reversedhimselfandthenwetoncemore.Well,onebed-wetteramongfiveboyswasn’tbad.

Meggiewascurledintoalittleheap,withherthumbinhermouthandherrag-decoratedhairallaroundher.Theonlygirl.Feecasthernomorethanapassingglancebeforeleaving;therewasnomysterytoMeggie,shewasfemale.Feeknewwhatherlotwouldbe,anddidnotenvyherorpityher.Theboysweredifferent;theyweremiracles,malesalchemizedoutofherfemalebody.Itwashardnothavinghelparoundthehouse,butitwasworthit.Amonghispeers,Paddy’ssonswerethegreatestcharacterreferencehepossessed.Letamanbreedsonsandhewasarealman.