Волны

           Nowwemustdropourtoys.Nowwemustgointogether.Thecopy-booksarelaidoutsidebysideonthegreenbaizetable.’

           ’Iwillnotconjugatetheverb,’saidLouis,’untilBernardhassaidit.MyfatherisabankerinBrisbaneandIspeakwithanAustralianaccent.IwillwaitandcopyBernard.HeisEnglish.TheyareallEnglish.Susan’sfatherisaclergyman.Rhodahasnofather.BernardandNevillearethesonsofgentlemen.JinnyliveswithhergrandmotherinLondon.Nowtheysucktheirpens.Nowtheytwisttheircopy-books,and,lookingsidewaysatMissHudson,countthepurplebuttonsonherbodice.Bernardhasachipinhishair.Susanhasaredlookinhereyes.Bothareflushed.ButIampale;Iamneat,andmyknickerbockersaredrawntogetherbyabeltwithabrasssnake.Iknowthelessonbyheart.Iknowmorethantheywilleverknow.Iknewmycasesandmygenders;IcouldknoweverythingintheworldifIwished.ButIdonotwishtocometothetopandsaymylesson.Myrootsarethreaded,likefibresinaflower-pot,roundandroundabouttheworld.Idonotwishtocometothetopandliveinthelightofthisgreatclock,yellow-faced,whichticksandticks.JinnyandSusan,BernardandNevillebindthemselvesintoathongwithwhichtolashme.Theylaughatmyneatness,atmyAustralianaccent.IwillnowtrytoimitateBernardsoftlylispingLatin.’

           ’Thosearewhitewords,’saidSusan,’likestonesonepicksupbytheseashore.’

           ’TheyflicktheirtailsrightandleftasIspeakthem,’saidBernard.