"Bruce Holland Rogers - Whalesong" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rogers Bruce Holland)

Whalesong
by Bruce Holland Rogers
This story copyright 1989 by Bruce Holland Rogers. This copy was created for Jean Hardy's personal
use. All other rights are reserved. Thank you for honoring the copyright.

Published by Seattle Book Company, www.seattlebook.com.

* * *


"I don't know why you expect me to get all weepy about it, Mother," Helen said into the phone. "It's
not like David and I had an ideal marriage."
"Helen," her mother said, "the man is dead."
"And I'm sorry, just like I'd be sorry for any other stranger dying on the highway," Helen said. From
the hallway bathroom came a high-pitched Skyreeee? Skyreeee?, and then a
Thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk. Helen covered the receiver.
"Richard!" she called out. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing!"
"Well cut out whatever's making the funny noise."
"It's not me, Mom."
Helen uncovered the receiver. "Sorry. Richard was making some noise in the bathroom."
Her mother's voice said, "How are the kids taking it?"
"Pretty well. They cry some, and then they're O.K. We're all handling it like troopers."
"Helen, that's not natural."
"Oh, come on, Mother. He wasn't around much for them, either. It's hard to miss someone you hardly
see."
"Listen to me," said her mother. "You're being awfully stony about this. You sound a lot like your
father, just too reasonable and hard to be believed. And that's what finally killed him, you know."
"A heart attack is what killed him."
"Helen, I'm telling you, not matter how far apart you and David were, he was your husband for twelve
years. You lived under the same roof...."
"Only in principle."
"What I'm saying," Helen's mother said, "is that it's not natural for you not to grieve even a little."
From the bathroom came Skyreeee? Skyreeee? , followed by a low, vibrating Oooooooooooomp.
"Richard, cut it out!"
"I'm just washing my hands."
"Mother, I've got to go," Helen said, and hung up. Then, marching down the hall, she said, "Young
man, when I'm on the phone I expect a little-"
"It wasn't me!" Richard said as she entered the bathroom.
"The pipes make noise when the water runs." He turned the faucet, and as the water ran, the bathroom
filled with Skyreeee? Skyreeee? , and then Thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk. "See?"
"O.K.," Helen said. "Not guilty. Where's your sister?"
"I don't know."
"Well, find her and get her to set the table, and you pour drinks. I want water."
"Can I have Coke?"
"No, you cannot have Coke. You and Carissa can drink milk like you always do with dinner, and I
wish you would stop asking. Now, go get your sister."
Richard's shoulders slumped as though some of his bones had suddenly vanished, and he sighed,
"O.K."
"Don't you drag your feet," Helen said. "Scoot."