The Piano Player
The Piano Player (第1/3页)
Outsidehiswindowfive-year-oldPriscillaHess,squareandsquatasamailbox(redsweater,bluelumpycorduroypants),lookedaroundpoignantlyforsomeowipeheroverflowingnose.Therewasabutterflylockedinsidethatmailbox,surely;woulditeverescape?Orwasthequalityofmailboxnessstucktoherforever,likeherparents,likehername?Theskywassunnyandblue.AfiletofgreenSillyPuttydisappearedintofatPriscillaHessandheturnedtogreethiswifewhowascrawlingthroughthedooronherhandsandknees.
"Yes?"hesaid."Whatnow?"
"Imugly,"shesaid,sittingbackonherhaunches."Ourchildrenareugly."
"Nonsense,"Briansaidsharply."Theyrewonderfulchildren.Wonderfulandbeautiful.Otherpeopleschildrenareugly,notourchildren.Nowgetupandgobackouttothesmokeroom.Youresupposedtobecuringaham."
"Thehamdied,"shesaid."Icouldntcureit.Itriedeverything.Youdontlovemeanymore.Thepenicillinwasstale.Imuglyandsoarethechildren.Itsaidtotellyougoodbye."
"It?"
"Theham,"shesaid."IsoneofourchildrennamedAmbrose?SomebodynamedAmbrosehasbeensendingustelegrams.Howmanydowehavenow?Four?Five?Doyouthinktheyreheterosexual?"Shemadeamoueandranahandthroughherartichokehair."Thehouseisrustingaway.Whydidyouwantasteelhouse?WhydidIthinkIwantedtoliveinConnecticut?Idontknow."
"Getup,"hesaidsoftly,"getup,dearlybeloved.Standupandsing.SingParsifal."
"IwantaTriumph,"shesaidfromthefloor."ATR-4.EveryoneinStamford,everysingleperson,hasonebutme.IfyougavemeaTR-4Idputouruglychildreninitanddriveaway.ToWellfleet.Idtakealltheuglinessoutofyourlife."
"Agreenone?"
"Aredone,&quo
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