Читать книгу Out of Their Minds - Luis Humberto Crosthwaite - Страница 14

PULL THOSE LITTLE STRINGS

Ramón and Cornelio are always together. They’re seen in the streets, walking; in school, almost never. At the movies, they enjoy the same films, they like the same stuff. Where is Ramón? With Cornelio. Where is Cornelio? With Ramón. Looking for both of them? They’re hanging out together.

People talk about them behind their backs. It’s not right, people say. And so young. They eat together. They are seen in the cafes, chatting. They order the same brand of soda, write long entries in notebooks. It’s as if they are writing the same thing. It’s not right that they write so much. They solve crossword puzzles: Ramón, down; Cornelio, across. They are seen taking long walks, always smiling. They walk in front of the hair salon, in front of the shoe repair shop, in front of the market, in front of the pharmacy. Long walks, both serious, brooding.

They spend a lot of time in Ramón’s room. His mother comes up to the door, but she only hears silence. Ramón on his bed, Cornelio on the floor, both lying down, hands crossed behind their heads. They look at the ceiling, the light bulb, the water stains. Long stretches without talking.

It’s not right, people say. Their mothers worry.