"Ian R. Macleod - Grownups" - читать интересную книгу автора (Macleod Ian R)

paperтАФa rare event in itself. тАЬHeтАЩs just resting, Son. Upstairs in his own room, his
own bed.тАЭ

тАЬYes, darling.тАЭ MumтАЩs voice came from behind. Bobby felt her hands on his
shoulders, kneading softly. тАЬItтАЩs such a happy day for you, Dad and me. TonyтАЩs a
grownup now. IsnтАЩt that wonderful?тАЭ The fingers tightened, released.

тАЬThat doesnтАЩt mean you donтАЩt go to school,тАЭ Dad added he gave his paper a
shake, rearranged it across the teapot and the marmalade jar.
 тАЬBut be sure to tell Miss Gibson whatтАЩs happened.тАЭ MumтАЩs voice faded to
the back of the kitchen. The fridge door smacked open. тАЬSheтАЩll want to know why
youтАЩre late for register.тАЭ Bottles jingled. Mum wafted close again. She came around
to the side of the table and placed a tumbler filled with white fluid beside him. The
bitter milk. тАЬWe know youтАЩre still young,тАЭ she said. тАЬBut thereтАЩs no harm, and now
seems as good a time as any.тАЭ Her fingers turned a loose button on her blouse. тАЬTry
it, darling, itтАЩs not so bad.тАЭ

What happens if I donтАЩt . . . Bobby glanced quickly at Mum, at Dad. What
happens if... through the kitchen window, the sky was summer grey тАЩ the clouds
casting the soft warm light that he loved more than sunlight, that brought out the
green in the trees and made everything seem closer and more real. What happens . . .
Bobby picked up the tumbler in both hands, drank it down in breathless gulps, the
way heтАЩd seen Tony do so often in the past.

тАЬGood lad,тАЭ Mum sighed after heтАЩd finished. She was behind him again, her
fingers trailing his neck. Bobby took a breath, suppressed a shudder. This bitter milk
tasted just as Tony always said it did: disgusting.

тАЬCan I see Tony now, before I go to school?тАЭ

Mum hesitated. Dad looked up again from his newspaper. Bobby knew what
it would be like later, the cards, the flowers, the house lost in strangers. This was his
best chance to speak to his brother.

тАЬOkay,тАЭ Mum said. тАЬBut not for long.тАЭ

Tony was sitting up in bed, the TV Mum and Dad usually kept in their own
bedroom propped on the dressing table. Having the TV was a special sign of illness;
Bobby had had it twice himself, once with chicken pox, and then with mumps. The
feeling of luxury had almost made the discomfort worthwhile.

тАЬI just thought IтАЩd see how you were,тАЭ Bobby said.

тАЬWhat?тАЭ Tony lifted the remote control from the bedspread, pressed the red
button to kill the sound. It was a reluctant gesture that Bobby recognized from Dad.

тАЬHow are you feeling?тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩm fine, Bobby.тАЭ