第10部分(第6/7 頁)

the　cigarettes　from　behind　his　ear　and

stuck　it　in　his　mouth；　playing　with　it　between　his　lips。　“A　benefit　for

what？”　he　demanded。

Dan　rocked　his　chair　back　and　forth；　a　smug　look　on　his　face。　Jenny

turned　off　the　faucet　and　glared　at　him；　daring　him　to　go　on。

“Get　this；”　Dan　said。　“It’s　a　party　to　raise　money　for　those　peregrine

falcons　that　live　in　Central　Park。　They’re　probably　going　to　build　like；

birdhouse　mansions　for　them　or　something。　Like　there　aren’t

thousands　of　homeless　people　that　could　use　the　money。”

“Oh；　shut　up；”　Jenny　said；　furious。　“You　think　you　know　everything。

It’s　just　a　stupid　party。　I　never　said　it　was　a　great　cause。”

“You　call　that　a　cause？”　her　father　bellowed。　“Shame　on　you。　Those

people　only　want　those　birds　around　because　they’re　pretty。

Because　it　makes　them　feel　like　they’re　in　the　pretty　countryside；

like　they’re　at　their　houses　in　Connecticut　or　Maine。　They’re

decorative。　Leave　it　to　the　leisure　class　to　e　up　with　some

charity　that　does　absolutely　no　one　any　good　at　all！”

Jenny　leaned　back　against　the　kitchen　counter；　stared　up　at　the

ceiling；　and　tuned　her　father　out。　She’d　heard　this　same　tirade

before。　It　didn’t　change　anything。　She　still　wanted　to　go　to　that

party。

“I　just　want　to　have　some　fun；”　she　said　stubbornly。　“Why　does　it

have　to　be　such　a　big　deal？”

“It’s　a　big　deal　because　you’re　going　to　get　used　to　this　silly

debutante　nonsense；　and　you’re　going　to　wind　up　a　big　fake　like

your　mother；　who　hangs　around　rich　people　all　the　time　because

she’s　too　scared　to　think　for　herself；”　her　father　shouted；　his

unshaven　face　turning　dark　red。　“Dammit