The Help / Прислуга. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“I can’t believe this is finally going to happen,” Hilly says, because she’s been trying to set me up[43 - she’s been trying to set me up – (разг.) она пыталась меня свести (познакомить) с кем-нибудь] for months with her husband’s cousin. She’s intent on it even though he’s much too good-looking for me, not to mention a state senator’s son.

“Don’t you think we should… meet first?” I ask. “I mean, before we go out on an actual date?”

“Don’t be nervous.

William and I will be right next to you the whole time.”

I sigh. The date’s been canceled twice already. I can only hope it’ll be put off again. And yet I’m flattered that Hilly has so much faith that someone like him would be interested in someone like me.

“Oh, and I need you to come on by and pick up these notes,” Hilly says. “I want my initiative in the next newsletter[44 - newsletter – (уст.) еженедельное письмо с новостями, рассылавшееся провинциальным подписчикам], a full page next to the photo ops.

”

I pause. “The bathroom thing?” Even though it was only a few days ago that she’d brought this up at bridge club, I’d hoped it was forgotten.

“It’s called the Home Help Sanitation Initiative – William Junior you get down or I will snatch you baldheaded Yule May get in here – and I want it in this week.

”

I am editor of the League newsletter. But Hilly is president. And she’s trying to tell me what to print.

“I’ll see. I don’t know if there’s room[45 - if there’s room – (разг.) хватит ли места (в бюллетене)],” I lie.

From the sink, Pascagoula sneaks a look at me, as if she can hear what Hilly’s saying. I look over at Constantine’s bathroom, now Pascagoula’s. It’s off the kitchen. The door’s half open and I can see a tiny room with a toilet, a pull string flusher at the top, a bulb with a yellowing plastic shade.

The small corner sink hardly holds a glass of water. I’ve never once been inside. When we were kids, Mother told us she’d spank us if we went in Constantine’s bathroom. I miss Constantine more than anything I’ve ever missed in my life.

“Then make room,” Hilly says, “because this is pretty darn important.