-Hey, man, ever read any book about America?- I asked.
-Jack London’s sure. Swell dude. Malamute Kidd, Rivera, the Mexican. Hey, also that funny guy, O’Henry. They made a terrific movie recently. That ‘Indian Chief’ was just unbelievable.
-Any women- authors besides The Gadfly?
-Women? Nope. Wait, wait, that theater here recently staged some play by an American woman. Didn’t you see the posters? Something called ‘Little Foxes’. Boring stuff.
-I’ve got a book here, a new one, written by some woman. Seems to be about killing birds or something. Do you think I should try it?
-Those westerners, they sometimes have strange headings. How do you say it is called?
-Ubit Peresmeshnika (To kill a Mockingbird- MS).
-That could be some nickname of a gangster. Boss Mockingbird. You know, give me the book and wait for me. I will go and ask our school librarian. Don’t go with me- she becomes suspicious when we come together. Thinks we are on for some trick.
Kolya returned in about 0.5 –hour with a puzzled face.
-Dude, she says it is about Negroes. Kind off like Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Vopli i sopli ( Lots of noises and tears- MS). But she also said something I didn’t comprehend. She said it was not for me to read.
-What’s that supposed to mean?
-Don’t know. I can read anything. Recently I read a steamy book ‘A man and a woman’. Ever watched a movie?
-That’s French, right? This book is about USA.
-OK, you try it then and tell me if it’s worth it.
3. Screening in the Red Corner
The school was empty late in the evening and the Red Corner was the coziest place. All those photos of Lenin and other big comrades were protecting us. They seemed curious too, squinting at the book we put on the desk. We read it. It was the time to share.
