Читать книгу Are We There Yet? - Дэвид Левитан, David Levithan, Рэйчел Кон - Страница 32

DANNY IS STILL ASLEEP WHEN ELIJAH RETURNS TO THE ROOM. BUT only for a moment.

“What took you so long?” he asks, stretching out, reaching for his watch.

“Are you ready to go?” Elijah replies. Danny grunts and puts on his shoes.

Map in hand, Danny leads the way to St Mark’s Square. His movement is propulsive, unchecked by awe or curiosity. He knows where he wants to go, and he wants to get there soon. Elijah struggles to keep up.

(“What is taking you so long?” Danny is on his way to the arcade and supposed to be watching his ten-year-old brother. Danny has agreed to drive Elijah and his friends to the movies and waits impatiently by the car. Danny is walking ten feet ahead to the bus stop and wants to get to his friends. Elijah is holding him back. That is the clear implication of the question. It is Elijah’s fault. Elijah is left behind because he’s too slow.)

As they approach St Mark’s, the streets become more crowded. Danny weaves and bobs through the fray, dodging the men and women who walk at a more leisurely pace. Elijah follows in Danny’s wake, without enough time to wonder if these couples are lovers, or if the children are playing games. Finally – too soon – they arrive at the Caffè Florian. Danny barks out their name and says, “Reservation, table for two.” The maître d’ smiles, and Elijah can sense him thinking to himself, American