Поющие в терновнике

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           Theschoolyearwasdrawingtoaclose,Decemberandherbirthdayjustbeginningtothreatenfullsummer,whenMeggielearnedhowdearlyonecouldbuythedesireofone’sheart.ShewassittingonahighstoolnearthestovewhileFeedidherhairasusualforschool;itwasanintricatebusiness.Meggie’shairhadanaturaltendencytocurl,whichhermotherconsideredtobeagreatpieceofgoodluck.Girlswithstraighthairhadahardtimeofitwhentheygrewupandtriedtoproducegloriouswavymassesoutoflimp,thinstrands.AtnightMeggiesleptwithheralmostknee-lengthlockstwistedpainfullyaroundbitsofoldwhitesheettornintolongstrips,andeachmorningshehadtoclamberuponthestoolwhileFeeundidtheragsandbrushedhercurlsin.

           FeeusedanoldMasonPearsonhairbrush,takingonelong,scragglycurlinherlefthandandexpertlybrushingthehairaroundherindexfingeruntiltheentirelengthofitwasrolledintoashiningthicksausage;thenshecarefullywithdrewherfingerfromthecenteroftherollandshookitoutintoalong,enviablythickcurl.Thismaneuverwasrepeatedsometwelvetimes,thefrontcurlswerethendrawntogetheronMeggie’scrownwithafreshlyironedwhitetaffetabow,andshewasreadyfortheday.Alltheotherlittlegirlsworebraidstoschool,savingcurlsforspecialoccasions,butonthisonepointFeewasadamant;Meggieshouldhavecurlsallthetime,nomatterhowharditwastosparetheminuteseachmorning.