Поющие в терновнике

           "Well,whereelsecanIscreamandyellandhowlbutonastage?I’mnotallowedtodoanyofthosehere,oratschool,oranywhere!Ilikescreamingandyellingandhowling,dammit!"

           "Butyou’resogoodatart,Jussy!Whynotbeanartist?"Meggiepersevered.

           Justineturnedfromthehugegasstove,flickedherfingeragainstacylindergauge."Imusttellthekitchenrouseabouttochangebottles;we’relow.It’lldofortoday,though."ThelighteyessurveyedMeggiewithpity."You’resoimpractical,Mum,really.Ithoughtitwassupposedtobethechildrenwhodidn’tstoptoconsideracareer’spracticalaspects.Letmetellyou,Idon’twanttostarvetodeathinagarretandbefamousafterI’mdead.IwanttoenjoyabitoffamewhileI’mstillalive,andbeverycomfortablefinancially.SoI’llpaintasahobbyandactforaliving.How’sthat?"

           "You’vegotanincomefromDrogheda,Jussy,"Meggiesaiddesperately,breakinghervowtoremainsilentnomatterwhat."Itwouldnevercometostarvinginagarret.Ifyou’dratherpaint,it’sallright.Youcan."

           Justinelookedalert,interested."HowmuchhaveIgot,Mum?"

           "Enoughthatifyoupreferred,youneedneverworkatanything."

           "Whatabore!I’denduptalkingonthetelephoneandplayingbridge;atleastthat’swhatthemothersofmostofmyschoolfriendsdo.BecauseI’dbelivinginSydney,notonDrogheda.IlikeSydneymuchbetterthanDrogheda."Agleamofhopeenteredhereye.