"Esther M. Friesner - Birthday" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friesner Esther M)

girl. It's important for a woman to make peace, to compromise. No one wins a
war. Maybe whoever took the last of my sampler sheets needed it more than I
do.
Maybe she had to stay late, work overtime, an d everyone else locked their
pads
away in their desks so she had to help herself to mine.

"Good morning, Linda." It's my boss, Mr. Beeton. His melon face is shiny with
a
smile. "I see you've found my little surprise."

"Sir?" I say.

"Now, now, I know what day this is just as well as you do. Do you think the
ladies are the only ones who want to wish you the best for the future? Just
became there's a door on my office, it doesn't mean I'm sealed inside,
ignorant
of my girls' lives." He pats me on the back and says, "I'm giving you the day
off, with pay. Have fun." And then he is gone, a walrus in a blue-gray suit
waddling up the aisle between the rows of terminals.

I don't want to have the day off. What will I do?

Where will I go? The party isn't until six o'clock tonight. There is so much I
need to say to her before then. I suppose I could go to the bank, but that's
only ten seconds' worth of time. It's nowhere near enough. Here at work I
could
keep finding excuses to --

Mr. Beeton is at the end of the aisle, staring at me. He must be wondering why
I'm still sitting here, staring at a blank screen. I'd better go. I put on my
jacket and walk away from my terminal. It will still be here tomorrow. So will
part of me.

I hear the murmurs as I walk to the door. The women are smiling at me as I
pass,
sad smiles, encouraging smiles, smiles coupled with the fleeting touch of a
hand
on mine. "I'm so happy for you," they say. "You're so strong."

"I've been praying for you."

"Have a good time."

"Have a good life."

"See you tomorrow."

But what will they see? I think about how many sick days I have left. Not
enough. I will have to come back tomorrow, and I will have to work as if