第8部分(第4/7 頁)

as　in　his　boat　in　the　port　from　somewhere。　The　destination　was　in　part　sexual　…　they　did

everything；　but　this　was　the　obvious　next　step。　The　life　of　the　two　was　in　the　same　rhythm；

separately；　but　together；　as　the　floats　of　a　Hobie　Cat　The　two　had　17　years。　The　two　would

be　formed　in　June。　The　two　went　to　college　next　year。

He　and　Jennifer　were　in　totally　different　rhythms　and　unfortunately　the　sex　was　not　even　on

the　horizon。　She　was　14。　Next　year；　and　for　two　years　after　that；　she　would　wear　the　uniform

and　would　go　to　the　Constance　Billard　every　day；　while　he　was　in　college　doing　God　knows

what。　Most　people　would　be　disconcerted　by　the　difference　in　age；　but　Nate　thought　it　means

reassuring。　While　he　was　adrift　in　uncharted　waters　of　the　future；　Jenny　would　be　anchored

securely　at　home。　He　could　write　to　her；　or　call；　or　e　back　and　see　it　and　nothing　would

have　changed。

Charlie　got　the　intact　pickles　with　a　fork　and　put　in　dish　of　Nate　as　a　dead　fish。

…It　seems　that　you　are　dry。　Think　pdoe　chemical　to　prove？

nate　looked　at　him　and　shook　the　bag　pl　＇Astico　of　marijuana　in　his　pocket。　Looked　at　the

clock。

…How　about　a　quick　fuminho　before　we　go？

The　other　three　boys　assentiram　anxious。　Nate　smiled　and　stood　up。　I　thought　I　had　solved

something　in　his　head；　but　was　not　sure　what　it　was。

…e　on；　he　said。

maybe　kids　are　like　clothes

While　the　lessons　of　the　second　and　third　in　the　side　of　the　Constance　Billard　began　the

tests；　Jenny　was　in　health　class；　discussing　love；　sex；　shampoo　and　the　peculiarities　of　the

boys；　among　other　things。

Eleven　girls　sit　in　circles　on　the　floor　behind　a　sunny　window　in　the　cozy　corn