Поющие в терновнике

           "Coldasastepmother’sbreast."

           Heshruggedhisshoulders,bored."Haven’taclue."

           TheyweresittingintheDomainonthegrass,justbelowtheGothicbulkofSaintMary’sCathedral.DanehadphonedtoletJustineknowhewascominginforaspecialceremonyinthecathedral,andcouldshemeethimforawhilefirstintheDom?Ofcourseshecould;shewasdyingtotellhimthelatestepisode.

           AlmostfinishedhislastyearatRiverview,Danewascaptainoftheschool,captainofthecricketteam,theRugby,handballandtennisteams.Andduxofhisclassintothebargain.Atseventeenhewastwoinchesoversixfeet,hisvoicehadsettledintoitsfinalbaritone,andhehadmiraculouslyescapedsuchafflictionsaspimples,clumsinessandabobbingAdam’sapple.Becausehewassofairhewasn’treallyshavingyet,butineveryotherwayhelookedmorelikeayoungmanthanaschoolboy.OnlytheRiverviewuniformcategorizedhim.

           Itwasawarm,sunnyday.Daneremovedhisstrawboaterschoolhatandstretchedoutonthegrass,Justinesittinghunchedbesidehim,herarmsaboutherkneestomakesureallexposedskinwasshaded.Heopenedonelazyblueeyeinherdirection.

           "Whatdidyoudolastnight,Jus?"

           "Ilostmyvirginity.AtleastIthinkIdid."

           Bothhiseyesopened."You’reaprawn."

           "Pooh!Hightime,Isay.HowcanIhopetobeagoodactressifIdon’thaveacluewhatgoesonbetweenmenandwomen?"

           "Yououghttosaveyourselfforthemanyoumarry."

           Herfacetwistedinexasperation.