"Eric Flint & Ryk E. Spoor - Diamonds are Forever" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

- Chapter 1

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 - Chapter 1




DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor

1. Calling Mamma
"You're getting MARRIED?!"
I had to pull the receiver away from my ear. Father always said if Mamma was in full voice she could
break window glass over in the next county. "Yes, Mamma. I asked Jodi yesterday and she accepted."
"Well, that's WONDERFUL!" Another ear-saving reaction. Her voice shifted to No Nonsense mode.
"Now you've put this off long enough, Clinton Jefferson Slade. You're bringin' that girl home to meet
your family this very week, you hear? I know you can take that time off if'n you try, in that big fancy job
that you're so important at."
When Mamma uses your whole name, there isn't anything for it but you'd better do as you're told. "Yes,
Mamma. It's just . . . Mamma, she's city."
"Well, now, I know that, boy. What other kind of girl would you be meetin' in New York? We're not
completely uneducated out here, you know."
I lowered my voice. "Mamma, I'll come. I'll bring her, okay. But . . . is everything okay there?"
"Well, of COURSE itтАФ" Mamma cut off short, then sighed. "Oh. Yes, Clinton, ain't been none of that in
quite a while. Daddy Zeke said you might be tryin' to hide that from this girl and that was why we hadn't
met her."
"From anyone, Mamma, not just Jodi. Family's never told anyone, and I didn't aim to change that." I was
slightly embarrassed to hear the Kentucky accent getting stronger; it always did when I talked to family.
Not that I was really embarrassed about my family, not really, but . . . sometimes they were so weird.
"So everything is okay?"
"Just FINE, dear. Now, we'll be expecting you when?"
I did a quick calculation in my head. "Say, Monday evening? We'll be driving and I'll have to make
some arrangements before we go."
"That will be just fine, Clint dear." I was back to Clint now, so that was good. I hadn't been at all sure
how they'd take me marrying a city girl, even though they really thought I was more than half city
myself now. "We'll do you proud, boy, because we really are all proud of you, first Slade to finish
college this century and all, and you done so well."
I blushed, and I know darn well Mamma could tell, even over the phone. "Aw, Mamma, ain't any big
deal, really. Anyone in the family coulda done it."
"Don't you go selling yourself short, Clint dear. Even Evangeline knows perfectly well you're the genius
in our family, and she's no dummy herself. Take care, and the whole family will be looking for you!"
We exchanged kisses over the phone, silly though that sounds, and I hung up.
"So," Jodi said, coming over, "were those bellows of fury, or was she happy to hear about it?"