Волны

           Iimaginethesenameless,theseimmaculatepeople,watchingmefrombehindbushes.Ileaphightoexcitetheiradmiration.Atnight,inbed,Iexcitetheircompletewonder.Ioftendiepiercedwitharrowstowintheirtears.Iftheyshouldsay,orIshouldseefromalabelontheirboxes,thattheywereinScarboroughlastholidays,thewholetownrunsgold,thewholepavementisilluminated.ThereforeIhatelooking-glasseswhichshowmemyrealface.Alone,Ioftenfalldownintonothingness.ImustpushmyfootstealthilylestIshouldfallofftheedgeoftheworldintonothingness.Ihavetobangmyheadagainstsomeharddoortocallmyselfbacktothebody.’

           ’Wearelate,’saidSusan.Wemustwaitourturntoplay.WewillpitchhereinthelonggrassandpretendtowatchJinnyandClara,BettyandMavis.Butwewillnotwatchthem.Ihatewatchingotherpeopleplaygames.IwillmakeimagesofallthethingsIhatemostandburythemintheground.ThisshinypebbleisMadameCarlo,andIwillburyherdeepbecauseofherfawningandingratiatingmanners,becauseofthesixpenceshegavemeforkeepingmyknucklesflatwhenIplayedmyscales.Iburiedhersixpence.Iwouldburythewholeschool:thegymnasium;theclassroom;thedining-roomthatalwayssmellsofmeat;andthechapel.Iwouldburythered-browntilesandtheoilyportraitsofoldmen--benefactors,foundersofschools.TherearesometreesIlike;thecherrytreewithlumpsofcleargumonthebark;andoneviewfromtheattictowardssomefarhills.