"Connie Willis - Daisy, in the Sun" - читать интересную книгу автора (Willis Connie)

Her grandmother stood up slowly and went to the window, where the faded red curtains did not shut out
the snow, but she did not look at the curtains. She stood and looked out at the snow, smiling faintly and
without anxiety.

Daisy edged her way through the crowd in the kitchen, frowning, and sat down across from Ron. His
hands still rested flat on the red linoleum-topped table. Daisy put her hands on the table, too, almost
touching his. She turned them palm up, in a gesture of helplessness.

тАЬIt isnтАЩt a dream, is it?тАЭ she asked him.

His fingers were almost touching hers. тАЬWhat makes you think IтАЩd know? I donтАЩt belong here,
remember? I work in a grocery store, remember?тАЭ

тАЬYou know everything,тАЭ she said simply.

тАЬNot everything.тАЭ

The cramp hit her. Her hands, still palm up, shook a little and then groped for the metal edge of the red
table as she tried to straighten up.

тАЬWarmer all the time, Daisy-Daisy,тАЭ he said.

She did not make it to her room. She leaned helplessly against the door and watched her grandmother,
measuring and writing and dropping the little slips of paper around her. And remembered.
Her mother did not even know him. She had seen him at the grocery store. Her mother, who never went
out, who wore sunglasses and long-sleeved shirts and a sun hat, even inside the darkened blue living
roomтАФher mother had met him at the grocery store and brought him home. She had taken off her hat
and her ridiculous gardening gloves and gone to the grocery store to find him. It must have taken
incredible courage.

тАЬHe said heтАЩd seen you at school and wanted to ask you out himself, but he was afraid IтАЩd say you were
too young, isnтАЩt that right, Ron?тАЬ Her mother spoke in a rapid, nervous voice. Daisy was not sure
whether she had said Ron or Rob or Rod. тАЭSo I said why donтАЩt you just come on home with me right
now and meet her? ThereтАЩs no time like the present, I say. IsnтАЩt that right, Ron?тАЬ

He was not embarrassed by her at all. тАЬWould you like to go get a Coke, Daisy? IтАЩve got my car here.тАЭ

тАЬOf course she wants to go. DonтАЩt you, Daisy?тАЭ

No. She wished the sun would reach out lazily, the great golden bear, and swat them all away. Right
now.

тАЬDaisy,тАЭ her mother said, hastily brushing at her hair with her fingers. тАЬThereтАЩs so little time left. I wanted
you to haveтАжтАЭ Darkness and blood. You wanted me to be as frightened as you are. Well, IтАЩm not,
Mother. ItтАЩs too late. WeтАЩre almost there now.

But when she went outside with him, she saw his convertible parked at the curb, and she felt the first faint
flutter of fear. It had the top down. She looked up at his tanned, smiling face, and thought, He isnтАЩt afraid.