Иногда они возвращаются
Стивен Кинг
Jim Norman's wife had been waiting for him since two, and when she saw the car pull up in front of their apartment building, she came out to meet him. She had gone to the store and bought a celebration meal—a couple of steaks, a bottle of Lancer's, a head of lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing. Now, watching him get out of the car, she found herself hoping with some desperation (and not for the first time that day) that there was going to be something to celebrate.
Миссис Норман ждала мужа с двух часов, и когда его автомобиль наконец подъехал к дому, она поспешила навстречу. Стол уже был празднично накрыт: бефстроганов, салат, гарниры «Блаженные острова» и бутылка «Лансэ». Видя, как он выходит из машины, она в душе попросила Бога (в который раз за этот день), чтобы ей и Джиму Норману было что праздновать.
He came up the walk, holding his new briefcase in one hand and four texts in the other. She could see the title of the top one—Introduction to Grammar. She put her hands on his shoulder and asked, “How did it go?”
And he smiled.
Он шел по дорожке к дому, в одной руке нес новенький кейс, в другой - школьные учебники. На одном из них она прочла заголовок: «Введение в грамматику». Миссис Норман положила руки на плечо мужа и спросила: «Ну как прошло?»
В ответ он улыбнулся.
But that night, he had the old dream for the first time in a very long time and woke up sweating, with a scream behind his lips.
His interview had been conducted by the principal of Harold Davis High School and the head of the English Department. The subject of his breakdown had come up.
He had expected it would.
А ночью ему приснился давно забытый сон, и он проснулся в холодном поту, с рвущимся из легких криком.
В кабинете его встретили директор школы Фентон и заведующий английским отделением Симмонс. Разговор зашел о его нервном срыве.
Он ждал этого вопроса...
The principal, a bald and cadaverous man named Fenton, had leaned back and looked at the ceiling. Simmons, the English head, lit his pipe.
“I was under a great deal of pressure at the time,” Jim Norman said. His fingers wanted to twist about in his lap, but he wouldn't let them.
Директор, лысый мужчина с изможденным лицом, разглядывал потолок, откинувшись на спинку стула. Симмонс раскуривал трубку.
- Мне выпали трудные испытания... - сказал Джим Норман.
“I think we understand that,” Fenton said, smiling. “And while we have no desire to pry, I'm sure we'd all agree that teaching is a pressure occupation, especially at the high-school level. You're on-stage five periods out of seven, and you're playing to the toughest audience in the world. That's why,” he finished with some pride, “teachers have more ulcers than any other professional group, with the exception of air-traffic controllers.”
