【时间旅行者的妻子】101

 I think about it. Yeah. Well, anyway, the stuff you were drinking was about forty proof. And you had two whiskeys.. .but you seemed perfectly fine and then all of a sudden you looked awful, and then you passed out, and I thought about it and realiz

【时间旅行者的妻子】100

The drink is the color of strawberry Kool-Aid. What is it? I take a sip. It tastes like 7-Up. Mia smiles an evil little smile. Its something I invented. You want to get smashed, this is the express train. Oh. Well, thank you. I toast her, and drink u

【时间旅行者的妻子】103

Saturday, April 8, 1989 (Clare is 17, Henry is 40) CLARE: Im sitting in Grandma Meagrams room, doing the New York Times crossword puzzle with her. Its a bright cool April morning and I can see red tulips whipping in the wind in the garden. Mama is do

【时间旅行者的妻子】12

Nell and Etta always got mad when I did anything in their kitchen beyond getting myself a Coke, and since Ive moved to Chicago I dont have anybody to cook for, so I havent been motivated to work on it. Mostly Im too busy with school and all, sol just

【时间旅行者的妻子】13

She continues to hold my hands. She looks at me with eagerness; with love. I feel profoundly humble. Clare? Yes? Could we back up? Could we pretend that this is a normal first date between two normal people? Okay. Clare gets up and goes back to her s

【时间旅行者的妻子】78

The car glides down the drive, around the bend and into the night. I walk after it toward a bed in the Meadow under the stars. Sunday, September 27, 1987 (Henry is 32, Clare is 16) HENRY: I materialize in the Meadow, about fifteen feet west of the cl

【时间旅行者的妻子】81

Ill drive you, she says. Clare picks me up in the Fiat at the end of the driveway, out of sight of the house. Shes wearing sunglasses even though its a dim afternoon, and lipstick, and her hair is coiled at the back of her head. She looks a lot older

【时间旅行者的妻子】80

Spanked? Clare looks at me, smiling, her eyebrows halfway to her hairline. Never mind. So you went to a movie, and...? Oh. Well, then he wanted to go to Travers. What is Travers? Its a farm on the north side. Clares voice drops, I can hardly hear her

【时间旅行者的妻子】79

Clare stares at her lap. I dont want to talk about it. Couldnt you just take my word that he totally deserves it? I think I know whats going on; I think Ive heard this story before. I sigh, and move closer to Clare, and put my arm around her. She lea

【时间旅行者的妻子】77

Since you havent actually gotten married yet, I suppose we would have to say that you are my girlfriend. Clare puts her hand someplace it probably shouldnt be. Id rather be your mistress. Youre sixteen, Clare. I gently remove her hand, and stroke her

【时间旅行者的妻子】76

Headlights appear in the distance. Clare turns her lights on and we are rushing along again, perfectly aligned between the yellow stripes in the middle of the road and the edge of the highway. Its 11:38. Clare is expressionless in the reflected dashb

【时间旅行者的妻子】75

Clare is going to kill me for this. Im a friend of Clares parents. They were worried about her taking the car to a party where there might be alcohol, so they asked me to go along and play chauffeur in case she got too pickled to drive. Helen pouts.

【时间旅行者的妻子】74

HENRY: A long time has passed, maybe an hour or so. I eat half the potato chips and drink the warm Coke Clare has brought along. I nap a bit. Shes gone for so long that Im starting to consider going for a walk. Also I need to take a leak. I hear heel

【时间旅行者的妻子】83

Shes a.. .cock.. .tease. She has no idea. Its like torturing a kitten because it bit you. Jason doesnt answer. His breath comes in long, shivering whinnies. Just as I am becoming concerned, Clare arrives. She holds up the inhaler, looks at me. Darlin

【时间旅行者的妻子】82

Thats all I need to hear. I draw the gun and step to Clares side. I point it at the guys chest. Hi, Jason, Clare says. I thought you might like to come out with us. He does the same thing I would do, drops and rolls out of range, but he doesnt do it

【时间旅行者的妻子】84

and part of me doesnt want to beat up somebody whos taped to a tree. Jason is bright red. It contrasts nicely with the gray duct tape. Oh, says Clare. You know, I think thats enough. I am relieved. So of course I say, You sure? I mean there are all s

【时间旅行者的妻子】85

Oh, what the hell. I step back and put my whole weight into a side kick to the groin. Jason screams. I turn and look at Clare, who is white under her makeup. Tears are running down Jasons face. I wonder if hes going to pass out. Lets go, I say. Clare

【时间旅行者的妻子】86

CLARE: At school on Monday, everybody looks at me but no one will speak to me. I feel like Harriet the Spy after her classmates found her spy notebook. Walking down the hall is like parting the Red Sea. When I walk into English, first period, everyon

【时间旅行者的妻子】87

Its Henry, right? I shake my head, and put my finger to my lips. We have arrived at the girls gym. We walk into the locker room and abracadabra! all the girls stop talking. Then theres a low ripple of talk that fills the silence. Helen and I have our

【时间旅行者的妻子】88

I am sleepy and content. It is January in my present, and Clare and I are struggling. This summer interlude is idyllic. Clare says, Id like to draw you, just like that. Upside down and asleep? Relaxed. You look so peaceful. Why not? Go ahead. We are