Поющие в терновнике

           "DoIhaveenoughtopaytohavemyfrecklesremovedwiththisnewelectricaltreatment?"

           "Ishouldthinkso.Butwhy?"

           "Becausethensomeonemightseemyface,that’swhy."

           "Ithoughtlooksdidn’tmattertoanactress?"

           "Enough’senough,Mum.Myfrecklesareapain."

           "Areyousureyouwouldn’tratherbeanartist?"

           "Quitesure,thankyou."Shedidalittledance."I’mgoingtotreadtheboards,Mrs.Worthington!"

           "HowdidyougetyourselfintotheCulloden?"

           "Iauditioned."

           "Andtheytookyou?"

           "Yourfaithinyourdaughteristouching,Mum.Ofcoursetheytookme!I’msuperb,youknow.OnedayIshallbeveryfamous."

           Meggiebeatgreenfoodcoloringintoabowlofrunnyicingandbegantodrizzleitoveralreadybakedfirtrees."Isitimportanttoyou,Justine?Fame?"

           "Ishouldsayso."Shetippedsugarinontopofbuttersosoftithadmoldeditselftotheinnercontoursofthebowl;inspiteofthegasstoveinsteadofthewoodstove,thecookhousewasveryhot."I’mabsolutelyiron-bounddeterminedtobefamous."

           "Don’tyouwanttogetmarried?"

           Justinelookedscornful."Notbloodylikely!Spendmylifewipingsnottynosesandcackybums?Salaamingtosomemannothalfmyequaleventhoughhethinkshe’sbetter?Hohoho,notme!"

           "Honestly,you’rethedizzylimit!Wheredoyoupickupyourlanguage?"

           Justinebegancrackingeggsrapidlyanddeftlyintoabasin,usingonehand."Atmyexclusiveladies’college,ofcourse."