"Kindl, Patrick - The Woman In The Wall" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kindl Patrick)

"Just for the first day," Kirsty said, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

"Kirsty, Andrea, I am speaking to your sister. Now, Anna," Mother said in a reasonable, kindly tone of voice that turned my knees to water, "you have to
go to school. It's the law. You should have gone last year, or even the year before, but I didn't think you were ready. Girls!" she said suddenly, in a
sharp voice. "You're sitting on your sister. I can't see her."

My sisters looked around themselves and shuffled their bottoms on the couch. I waved my arm to indicate that I was fine.

"Ah! There you are. You must realize, Anna, that this life you lead is not healthy. You haven't left this house in years. That isn't right for a growing
child."

I shrank miserably into the couch. I couldn't possibly leave the house; it was like asking me to strip off my very skin.

"And you need to play with other children."

We were all silent after this pronouncement, trying to imagine me playing with other children.

8 "You could play hide-and-seek, for example," Mother said brightly.

Kirsty shook her head. "It's boring playing hide-and-seek with Anna. All you do is look and look and look and you never find her."

"I wouldn't be doing my duty as a mother if I didn't send you to school," my mother said, ignoring Kirsty. "I don't mean to frighten you, but the state
could even come and take you away from me if I don't send you to school."

"Huh!" Andrea said. "If they came to get her, she'd hide. How would they ever find her?"

I decided that I had to say something.

"I think-"

"That isn't the point," Mother said to Andrea.

"I SAID, 'I THINK-'" I shouted in her ear. She jumped.

"Did you say something, Anna?" She leaned down to listen.

"I think if I have to go to school I will die."

She shook her head at the passion in my voice, but she looked away.

"She might, you know," said Andrea.

They all stared gloomily at a point on the sofa where they believed I was sitting.

"Teacher would step on Anna," said Kirsty, becoming tearful again.

"Teacher would not," Andrea contradicted her.

9 "Anna would already be trampled to death in the hall going to class."