"Carr, Terry (ed) - anthology - Science Fiction for People Who Hate Science Fiction - 07 - Davidso" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carr Terry)

"Mr. T-Taylor" she began very nervously. "I saw you
at the studio and I fol-followed you"she gulped"over
here. But it took till now for me to get up nerve"
"Why, you're frightened," he said, looking down at her.
"Don't be frightened. You don't ever have to be frightened
of me. Come in," he urged. "Please come in."
She picked up her notebook and followed him in obedi-
ently. Then, taking the seat he gestured to, she said, "And
I'm not such a child, either. I'm a senior at Bamard. Journal-
ism major. And I want a story from you, Mr. Taylor, before
all the other reporters get here. Please, Mr. Taylor, please."
He looked at her admiringly. "That took guts," he said.
"Where I come from, the men get separated from the boys
mighty young. Butdon't call me 'Mr. Taylor'Mr. Taylor
has gray hair at the temples. Call me David."
She called him David. And she told him that her name
was Pamela Novack. And he said that Pamela was a lovely
name. She told him that she'd hated it as a child, but that
latelyin fact, just this very minuteshe'd gotten to like it
a whole lot more. And they laughed. They laughed a whole
lot.
Before they knew it, it was getting light.
"Oh, golly," Pamela sighed. "Oh, gee, have I got a story!
In a way, it's so sad, and you having such an unhappy
childhood, I mean: your mother dying from the brain tu-
mor and your father being an alcoholic"
He said that was all in the past. He said they had to start
looking toward the future. She nodded soberly. Then she
stretched and said she was hungry.
"Hey, how about thati" David laughed, catching sight of
his face in the mirror. It was a nice face. He had done well
in making it; it looked like all the Davids he had ever seen.
"You know something? I'm hungry, too! I haven't had a bite
to eat since that cup of coffee after the show. Would you
like to have some breakfast? You would. Hot diggetyl . . .
Hello! I want Room Service, please."
The narcoleptic tones of the operator said. Not till ha'-
pas'six. And then suddenly were clear and alert and saying,
"Oh, Mr. TaylorP Pardon meof course, Mr. Taylorwhat
would you like? Scrambled eggs and coffee and toast and
gallons of orange juice. Yes, sir, Mr. Taylor."
Then, suddenly, the smile was gone from David's face.
Anxiously, Pamela asked what the matter was. Scowling, he
mimicked, "'Yes, Mr. Taylor, certainly, Mr. Taylor-it isn't
me they likenobody likes meit's the money. Once you
been in reform school, nobody has any use for you, the cops
are always watching you, the nice girls don't want to have
anything to do with you"
Pamela was troubled. "Oh, you mustn't say that. I1
well, I think I'm a nice girl" she blushed suddenly,