"What-UncleGorby" - читать интересную книгу автора (What Leslie)

had been playing with her Uncle Gorby doll and Gorby's head had rolled off the
table and onto the floor.

She cried out, a high-pitched moan.

"It was an accident," Anther said, as he stooped to grab the broken head. The
face was cracked down the middle, and the back of the head had broken off.
Anther handed her the pieces. "I was going to put it away."

She clutched Gorby's head; her breath quickening. "What have you done.?" Katya
screamed. "You little bastard!"

The boy looked up at her and his lips quivered in slow motion. His eyelids
welled with tears, and he pulled up his shoulders as his body convulsed.

She cradled Gorby in her palm, tracing the cracks with her fingertips. Her dad,
her lover, her luggage, her goldfish, Uncle Gorby -- all gone. And now she was
about to lose Anther.

She set the broken Matryeshka doll on the table and placed her arm across the
boy's back. "I'm so sorry," Katya said, but he did not calm at her voice. "I
didn't mean it. Please don't cry." She patted Anther's back and felt him start
to relax. His breathing caught in a shudder, then returned to normal.

"It's okay, sweetie," she whispered. "I can glue the head like new, and then you
can have the doll to keep."

He looked up at her, and smiled, halfheartedly. "Really?" he asked. "Do you
promise?"

"Yes," Katya said. "I want you to have it."

His eyelashes were shiny. He hugged her tight around the waist and she felt his
warm tears seep through her pajamas. "Wait till I tell my mom," he said.

"Your mom," Katya answered, having almost forgotten that he had one.

"You're my very best friend," he said.

She smoothed down his hair. "Your best friend," she said, disappointed. Yet even
that was better than nothing.

"Did I ever tell you that I always wanted my own set of Matryeshka dolls?"
Anther said.

"Yes," Katya answered. "You've told me that before."

He pulled away and moved to open the refrigerator door. "So, what do you want to
do today?" Anther asked as he rummaged inside.