Hemingway’s mother-in-law. (на английском)

Pauline’s wealthy family, despite Hemingway’s world renown, had no special liking for him. After the scandalous divorce Pauline’s mother, Mrs. Sofie gloated over anything and in the presence of Patrick (16) and Gregory (13), his sons, used to speak impartially of her ex-son-in-law. The children, undoubtedly, disliked this, as they idolized their father and thus had a dislike for their grandmother. The younger Gregory was especially indignant at that. And when his grandmother had finally wore him out with her insulting jokes, calling Hemingway names and picking on him, Gregory decided to avenge his dear father. He knew, that the main theme for Sofie was her own health (she could talk about it to anyone), and he decided to take advantage of that.

Seizing an opportunity when his mother went to a charitable committee meeting, he watched for his grandmother at the Saint Patrick’s church. He greeted her and regretted she visited them so seldom. Then he told her of his new collection of badges and asked her to come and see it.

Mrs. Sofie was really surprised at an unexpected attention from her obstinate grandson, she smiled happily and said she would go with Gregory to Baker Street 126 at once. There stood the luxurious mansion of her daughter’s, inherited from uncle David, Mrs. Sofie’s maternal cousin. She had long wanted to strengthen her relationship with her grandson, so it was a good opportunity, and she decided to grip it.

When they entered the living room, Gregory asked his grandmother to feel comfortable and went to his room to get his collection of badges and souvenirs. Mrs. Sofie took off her fur coat and on her way to a red velvet armchair by the fireplace cast a glance at the wall clock.

"What’s that?”, she started and looked again at the clock. "No, everything’s correct. Must be something wrong with my head”, she muttered and sat wearily in the armchair.

Gregory came back with several badge albums.

"Gregory”, asked him his grandmother. "Look at the gift clock, please. Is it working correctly?”

"It is, granny. Patrick checked it yesterday. He always checks it on Saturdays, but never lets me do it”.

"I mean”, said Mrs. Sofie not daring to look at the clock, "Is it going in the correct direction?”

"It is, granny. It’s a quarter to twelve. Why are you asking?”

"I’m sick, I’m very sick”, Mrs. Sofie lamented as she reached for her fur coat and, paying no attention to Gregory, went out.

When the door closed behind his grandmother, Gregory took the souvenir backward clock from the wall. It was his latest purchase, he found it in the store of the Turkish Armenian Simon. He hid it in his room, and hung a small icon of Mary on the wall. Then he took his collection and some badges for trade and went to his neighbour – his classmate and as passionate a collector of badges and other trinkets as himself.

In the evening after dinner Patrick and Gregory were resting at the fireplace and their mother Pauline Pfeiffer was embroidering her favorite poppies, as was her habit, when there was a knock on the door and in came their paternal cousin John with a troubled look. He said Mrs. Sofie was seriously ill and asked Pauline with her children to immediately visit her. Which they did at once.

Their pale grandmother with a handkerchief on her head lay in bed. Pauline rushed to her mother lamenting and bursting into tears.

"I’m dying, my daughter”, said Mrs. Sofie in a weak voice. "Something strange is happening with me. I was at your house today and I suddenly felt bad: I felt giddy, everything swam around me, the walls heeled and the clock in your living room went backwards”.

"But we have no clock in the living room. Only the icon of Mary”, exclaimed Pauline, wiping her eyes.

"How so? Gregory here will confirm this, he invited me to you”.

Другие произведения автора:

Невыполненный заказ

Эйфель или Mesdames et Messieurs, la tour Eiffel est devant vous. (1)

Гостеприимство