"Лариса Матрос. Behind the Staircase (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

Then they started loudly and jokingly to discuss their everyday concerns:
cars, houses, work, relations in the family and at work, which were common
components of their life and incomprehensible to Anna. She sat, turning her
head with a friendly smile. But she felt out of place here, which some
guests tried to dispel by directing a smile to her while they talked with
each other.
Rudolf and Masha came out from a kitchen and started to serve drinks on
silver trays, and goodies: roast nuts, salt crackers, cheese. Rudolf did not
know how to involve Anna in the hubbub. He brought a tray to her and said
playfully, "They are called appetizers here. At first I could not understand
it. Remember how it was in Russia - right away at the table with drinks,
food, toast! But now I even like it. First we sit in the family room, loaded
with strong drinks, chatting, become acquainted, and after that - sit at
table. You can conclude in advance, which people you want to sit next to at
the table."
"Yes, yes," a bright, thin, bleached blond, sitting in a chair
interrupted him cheerfully. "It is very important to get used to your
neighbor. Sometimes the hostess seats guests around the table, but I for
example, never sit next to Rudik to save my life. His cologne makes me sick.
Generally speaking, everybody here in America likes to smell "strongly" of
something. Those deodorants, perfumes..."
"Do you prefer the smell of sweat as, for example, was in Odessa's
buses during the hot summer, when most people were in synthetic wear?" one
guest laughed.
"I don't know. I would prefer you to smell of sweat, rather than the
cologne. Once you leave my house, I have to ventilate it all night."
"Yes, as for me, I like everything natural," said a stout,
bright-colored blond, who was obviously the mother of the young lady. "A
body should be fresh, then it will have a scent of its own. Those odors can
only veil..."
" As a matter of fact, I read," interrupted a flirty, slender brunette,
"a male sweat even inspires women..."
"Well, dear ladies," exclaimed the fat man with a loud laugh, "now I
know what to do to attract your attention."
Suddenly, the tall man with a big shock of black and white hair,
sitting on the floor next to a coffee table, interrupted the laughter and
asked seriously:
"Anna, why would you not move to America? You see how we live here
merrily and friendly. Here, are almost all our schoolmates!"
"Well, it would be very difficult for Anna to move now," said Masha, as
if she was informed all about Anna's life. "It would be much better if she
had moved seventeen years ago, like most of us." (During Masha's words, Anna
caught the passing glance form Rudolf.) "Now she is a professor, she has
status. Here she would start all over. There are so many scientists who
cannot find a job, especially in humanitarian areas."
"What does it mean to be a professor!" interrupted the same man. "Here
it is not necessary to be a professor. Here money is the main thing. If you
can make money...
you can, for example, open a restarurant.."
"Oh! Don't listen to them!" interrupted the girl emotionally, sitting