"William Tenn - Wednesday's Child" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tenn William)

Wednesday's Child
William Tenn

When he first came to scrutinize Wednesday Gresham with his rimless spectacles and watery blue eyes,
Fabian Balik knew nothing of the biological contradictions that were so incredibly a part of her essential
body structure. He had not even no-ticedтАФas yetтАФthat she was a remarkably pretty girl with eyes like
rain-sparkling violets. His original preoccupation with her was solely and specifically as a problem in
personnel administration.
All of which was not too surprising, because Fabian Balik was a thoroughly intent, thoroughly
sincere young office manager, who had convinced his glands conclusively, in several bitter skirmishes,
that their interests didn't have a chance against the inter-ests of Slaughter, Stark & Slingsby: Advertising
& Public Relations.
Wednesday was one of the best stenographers in the secretarial pool that was un-der his immediate
supervision. There were, however, small but highly unusual der-elictions in her employment history. They
consisted of peculiarities which a less dedicated and ambitious personnel man might have put aside as
mere trifles, but which Fabian, after a careful study of her six-year record with the firm, felt he could not,
in good conscience, ignore. On the other hand, they would obviously require an extended discussion and
he had strong views about cutting into an employee's working time.
Thus, much to the astonishment of the office and the confusion of Wednesday herself, he came up to
her one day at noon, and informed her quite calmly that they were going to have lunch together.


"This is a nice place," he announced, when they had been shown to a table. "It's not too expensive,
but I've discovered it serves the best food in the city for the price. And it's a bit off the beaten track so
that it never gets too crowded. Only people who know what they want manage to come here."
Wednesday glanced around, and nodded. "Yes," she said. "I like it too. I eat here a lot with the
girls."
After a moment, Fabian picked up a menu. "I suppose you don't mind if I order for both of us?" he
inquired. "The chef is used to my tastes. He'll treat us right."
The girl frowned. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Balik, butтАФ"
"Yes?" he said encouragingly, though he was more than surprised. He hadn't ex-pected anything but
compliance. After all, she was probably palpitating at being out with him.
"I'd like to order for myself," she said. "I'm on aтАФa special diet."
He raised his eyebrows and was pleased at the way she blushed. He nodded slowly, with dignity,
letting his displeasure come through in the way he pronounced his words. "Very well, as you please."
A few moments later, though, curiosity got too strong and broke through the ice. "What kind of diet
is that? Fresh-fruit salad, a glass of tomato juice, raw cabbage, and a baked potato? You can't be trying
to lose weight if you eat potatoes."
Wednesday smiled timidly. "I'm not trying to reduce, Mr. Balik. Those are all foods rich in Vitamin
C. I need a lot of Vitamin C."
Fabian remembered her smile. There had been a few spots of more-than-natural whiteness in it.
"Bad teeth?" he inquired.
"Bad teeth andтАФ" Her tongue came out and paused for a thoughtful second be-tween her lips.
"Mostly bad teeth," she said. "This is a nice place. There's a restaurant almost like it near where I live. Of
course it's a lot cheaperтАФ"
 "Do you live with your parents, Miss Gresham?"
"No, I live alone. I'm an orphan."
He waited until the waiter had deposited the first course, then speared a bit of the shrimp and
returned to the attack. "Since when?"
She stared at him over her fresh-fruit salad. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Balik?"