Поющие в терновнике

           "Meggie,sometimesthingsjustdon’thappenthewayyouwantthemto.Yououghttoknowthat.WeClearyshavebeentaughttoworktogetherforthegoodofall,nevertothinkofourselvesfirst.ButIdon’tagreewiththat;Ithinkweoughttobeabletothinkofourselvesfirst.IwanttogoawaybecauseI’mseventeenandit’stimeImadealifeformyself.ButDaddysaysno,I’mneededathomeforthegoodofthefamilyasawhole.AndbecauseI’mnottwenty-one,I’vegottodoasDaddysays."

           Meggienoddedearnestly,tryingtountanglethethreadsofFrank’sexplanation.

           "Well,Meggie,I’vethoughtlongandhardaboutit.I’mgoingaway,andthat’sthat.IknowyouandMumwillmissme,butBob’sgrowingupfast,andDaddyandtheboyswon’tmissmeatall.It’sonlythemoneyIbringininterestsDaddy."

           "Don’tyoulikeusanymore,Frank?"

           Heturnedtosnatchherintohisarms,huggingandcaressingherintorturedpleasure,mostofitgriefandpainandhunger."Oh,Meggie!IloveyouandMummorethanalltheothersputtogether!God,whyweren’tyouolder,soIcouldtalktoyou?Ormaybeit’sbetterthatyou’resolittle,maybeit’sbetter…"

           Helethergoabruptly,strugglingtomasterhimself,rollinghisheadbackandforthagainstthelog,histhroatandmouthworking.Thenhelookedather."Meggie,whenyou’reolderyou’llunderstandbetter."

           "Pleasedon’tgoaway,Frank,"sherepeated.

           Helaughed,almostasob."Oh,Meggie!Didn’tyouhearanyofit?Well,itdoesn’treallymatter.