Breakfast at Tiffany’s

CHAPTER THREE

A Party at Holly’s ApartmentApartment - апартаменти, квартира

The next day was Friday. I came home andAnd - та found a large box of expensive food outside my door. Below it was a card: Miss Holiday Golightly, Traveling. Written on the back was:

Thank you, darling Fred. Please forgive last night. You were very kind. I won’t wake you againAgain - знову – Holly.

I replied, Please do, andAnd - та left my note at her door with some flowers. But she was serious. I didn’t see her or hear from her. She had a new key for the front door. She didn’t ring my bell andAnd - та I missed her.

AfterAfter - після, потім, після того як, п... a few days, I felt angry[ˈæŋgrɪ] сердитий, розлючений . I was lonely but I didn’t want to see anyAny - який of my old friends. They seemed so uninteresting now. By Wednesday I couldn’t work.

I was thinking about Holly, Sing Sing, andAnd - та Sally Tomato allAll - всі, увесь, все, весь, цілий, ко... the time. I was thinking about a world where men gave women fifty dollars for the bathroom. That night, I left a message in her mailbox: Tomorrow is Thursday. The next morning, there was a second note from her: Thank you for telling me. Can you come for a drink tonight at six o’clock?

I waited until ten minutes past six, andAnd - та then I waited anotherAnother - інший, ще five minutes.

A strange man opened the door. He smelled of cigarettes andAnd - та soap. He was very small andAnd - та he had a big head. There was no kindness in his eyes. Hair grew out of his ears andAnd - та from his nose, andAnd - та he had a gray beard.

“The kid’s in the shower,” he said. He pointed his cigarette toward the sound of water[ˈwɔːtə] вода, водойма; мочити  in anotherAnother - інший, ще room.

We were standing because there were no seats in the room. Suitcases andAnd - та unpacked boxes were the only furniture. The boxes were used asAs - як tables. On one table there were drinks, andAnd - та on anotherAnother - інший, ще table were a telephone, Holly’s red cat, andAnd - та some yellow roses. There were bookshelves on one wall, with a few books. I liked the room immediately. It had a careless look.

“Did she invite you?” the man askedAsked - запитав. He looked at me carefully. “A lot of people come here when they’re not invited. Have you known the kid for a long time?”

“No,” I said. “I live upstairs.”

My answerAnswer - відповідь, вирішення, розв’... pleased him. “Is your apartmentApartment - апартаменти, квартира the same asAs - як this one?”

“It’s much smaller.”

“This place is a mess,” he said. “Sometimes she has plenty of money but she still lives in a mess. So, what do you think? Is she or isn’t she?”

“Isn’t she what?’

“A fake.”

“I don’t think she is.”

“You’re wrong. She is a fake. But you’re alsoAlso - ran right. She isn’t a fake because she’s a real fake. She believes allAll - всі, увесь, все, весь, цілий, ко... these things she believes. You can’t change her. I’ve tried, the great Benny Polan tried. Benny wanted to marry her but she refused. Benny spent thousands of dollars sending her to head-doctors. There was one famous doctor, he only speaks German. He couldn’t change her. But I like the kid. Not everybody likes her, but I do. I really like her because I’m romantic. Only romantic people understand her. But I’ll tell you something. You can do everything for her andAnd - та she’ll give you nothing. One day she’ll kill herself. Lots of girls kill themselves when they’re not even crazy. AndAnd - та she is crazy!”

“But she’s young,” I said. “She has a future.”

“You’re wrong againAgain - знову. A year or two agoAgo - тому, in California, things were different. People were interested in her andAnd - та she was near success. But if you walk out, you can’t walk back. Holly wasn’t famous, not before The Story of Dr. Wassell. Then she had a future. I know. I’m the guy who was helping her.” He pointed his cigarette at himself. “O.J. Berman.”

I didn’t know his name. I smiled politely but I’d never heard of O.J. Berman, Hollywood actors’ agentAgent - агент; фактор, чинник, програ....

“I saw her first. She was living with a guy who rode in horse races. ‘I’ll tell the police if you don’t leave her,’ I told him. She was only fifteen years old. She was wearing thick glasses but she had a lot of style. She just arrivedArrived - прибув, приїхав, прийшов in town, came from nowhere. We gave her French lessons to make her speak better. People were interested in her, important people. Then Benny Polan, a good guy, wanted to marry her. What more can anAn - невизначений артикль agentAgent - агент; фактор, чинник, програ... askAsk - запитати, запитувати for? Then The Story of Dr. Wassell. Did you see that movie? They wanted to give her a part asAs - як one of Dr. Wassell’s nurses. Then I got the phone call.” He held his hand to his ear. ‘This is Holly,’ she said. ‘I’m in New York.’

‘Why areAre - бути, перебувати; ар you in New York?’ I askedAsked - запитав. ‘It’s Sunday andAnd - та you have anAn - невизначений артикль interview for the movie tomorrow.’ She said, ‘I’m in New York because I’ve never been to New York before.’

‘Get on a plane andAnd - та come back here,’ I told her. But she didn’t want the movie. ‘What do you want?’

I askedAsked - запитав her. She said, ‘When I find out, I’ll tell you.’ You see? She’s crazy.”

The red cat jumped off its box andAnd - та walked up to him. He kicked it away[əˈweɪ] геть, далеко; віддалений  with the toe of his shoe.

“Is this what she wants?” he said. “A lot of people that aren’t invited? Living off money that men give her? Maybe she’ll marry Rusty Trawler.”

“Sorry, I don’t know him.”

“If you don’t know Rusty Trawler, you don’t know much about the kid.”

He smiled. The smile made his face kinder. “I want to start againAgain - знову with Holly. AsAs - як I told you,” he said, “I really like the kid.”

“What areAre - бути, перебувати; ар you saying about me, O.J.?” Holly came into the room with a towel aroundAround - навколо, приблизно, біля, по... her. Her feet were wet.

“That you’re crazy.”

“Fred knows that alreadyAlready - вже, раніше. Light me a cigarette, darling,” she said. She pulled off her shower hat andAnd - та shook her hair. “Not you, O.J. You make the end wet.”

She picked up the cat andAnd - та put him on her shoulder.

“O.J. says bad things about me,” she told me. I lit a cigarette andAnd - та she took it. “But he does know a lot of famous people’s phone numbers. What’s David O. Selznick’s number, O.J.? I want you to call him. Tell him about Fred. He’s very smart andAnd - та he writes wonderful stories. Don’t be shy, Fred. O.J., darling, how will you make Fred rich?”

“I’ll talk to Fred about that.”

“Remember,” she said, “I’m his agentAgent - агент; фактор, чинник, програ.... I’ll call you to fasten my dress. AndAnd - та if anybodyAnybody - хто knocks at the door, let them in.” Then she left us.

Many people knocked at the door. In the next fifteen minutes, a group of men filled the apartmentApartment - апартаменти, квартира. Some were soldiers. Most were too old to fight. They weren’t friends. Each man was surprised when he saw the others. Were these allAll - всі, увесь, все, весь, цілий, ко... the men that she met in bars? But they soon started talking.

I stood aloneAlone - один, самітний; лише by the bookshelves andAnd - та looked at Holly’s friends. One man was middle-aged but he had the face of a child. It was round andAnd - та fat, andAnd - та there were no lines aroundAround - навколо, приблизно, біля, по... his eyes andAnd - та mouth. He was at the center of the crowd. He poured drinks andAnd - та introduced people. It was Holly’s apartmentApartment - апартаменти, квартира, but his party. Maybe he was in love with her. But he didn’t mind about the other men. He wasn’t angry[ˈæŋgrɪ] сердитий, розлючений  when she touched a soldier’s armArm - twisting.

The man’s name was Rutherford (“Rusty”) Trawler. When both his parents died in 1908, he was five years old. He immediately became a millionaire andAnd - та his name was often in the newspapers. AfterAfter - після, потім, після того як, п... four marriages andAnd - та divorces, he was now anAn - невизначений артикль unmarried man againAgain - знову.

I read about him in a book on Holly’s shelf. It was full of pieces cut from Sunday newspapers about Holly andAnd - та Rusty. Holly walked up to me while I was reading one of them. It said: Miss Holiday Golightly, of the Boston Golightlys, makes every day a holiday for millionaire Rusty Trawler.

I said, “What was this week’s weather report?”

She smiled but she wasn’t amusedAmused - задоволений, веселий, радіс.... “Forget about Sally Tomato,” she said. “Do you like O.J.? He can help you, Fred.”

“You didn’t like his help,” I said.

“I don’t understand.”

“The Story of Dr. Wassell.”

“Is he still talking about that movie?” She smiled acrossAcross - через, поперек the room at Berman. “But he’s right, I was a bad girl. I was playing at being anAn - невизначений артикль actressActress - актриса. I didn’t want to be a movie star – it’s too difficult. I’m too intelligent andAnd - та I like myself too much. Movie stars don’t like themselves. But one day I want to be rich andAnd - та famous – that’s part of my plan. I’ll wake up one fine morning andAnd - та have breakfast at Tiffany’s. But I’ll alwaysAlways - завжди be Holly Golightly. You need a drink,” she said. “Rusty! Will you bring my friend a drink?”

She was still holding the cat. “Poor cat without a name,” she said. “I can’t give him a name because he doesn’t belong to me. We met by the river one day andAnd - та he came home with me. But he isn’t mine. I don’t want to own anythingAnything - що until I have the right place. I don’t know where that place is. Tiffany’s maybe.” She smiled andAnd - та dropped the cat on the floor. “Jewelry isn’t important to me. Well, I do like expensive jewelry. But you can’t wear the really expensive stones until you’re forty. They only look good on old women. But I love Tiffany’s for anotherAnother - інший, ще reason. Listen. You know those days when you’re really unhappy andAnd - та afraidAfraid - наляканий, зляканий?”

“Days when you’re sad?”

“No,” she said slowly. “No, you can be sad because you’re getting fat. Or maybe it’s rained for a long time. But sometimes you feel worse. You’re afraidAfraid - наляканий, зляканий andAnd - та you don’t know why. Something bad is going to happen… Do you get that feeling?”

“Quite often.”

“What do you do about it?”

“A drink helps.”

“I’ve tried that – andAnd - та drugs – but they don’t help. Only one thing works for me. I get into a taxi andAnd - та go to Tiffany’s. It calms me because it’s so quiet. Nothing very bad will happen to you there, not with those kind men in their nice suits, andAnd - та those wonderful, expensive smells. I want a place where I feel asAs - як good asAs - як in Tiffany’s. Then I’ll buy some furniture andAnd - та give the cat a name. Maybe afterAfter - після, потім, після того як, п... the war, Fred andAnd - та I -“

She lifted her dark glasses. “I went to Mexico. It’s a wonderful country for horses. I saw one house near the ocean. Fred’s good with horses.”

Rusty Trawler brought me a drink. “I’m hungry,” he said. “It’s seven-thirty andAnd - та I’m hungry. You know what the doctor says.”

“Yes, Rusty. I know what the doctor says.”

“So let’s stop the party. Let’s go.”

“Be a good boy, Rusty.” She spoke softly, but her voice was angry[ˈæŋgrɪ] сердитий, розлючений .

“You don’t love me,” he said.

“Nobody loves a bad boy.”

Her words seemed to excite him. This was a game that they played. He continued, “Do you love me?”

She touched his hand. “Look afterAfter - після, потім, після того як, п... the guests, Rusty. AndAnd - та when I’m ready, we’ll eat.”

“Chinese food?”

“Maybe. But not too much of it. Remember what the doctor says.”

He returned to the party. There was a happy smile on his face.

“Do you love him?” I askedAsked - запитав.

“You can love anybodyAnybody - хто if you really try. AndAnd - та he was very unhappy when he was a child.”

“He is a child. That’s how he actsActs - акти, дії, вчинки; діє, виступ....”

“He feels safer. He really wants to be a girl but he can’t think like that. ‘Grow up andAnd - та make a home with a nice, fatherly truck driver,’ I told him. But he got angry[ˈæŋgrɪ] сердитий, розлючений  andAnd - та tried to knife me. He’s OK. He won’t really hurt me.”

“Thank God you’re not going to marry Mr. Trawler.”

“He’s rich. Land in Mexico costs money. Now, let’s find O.J.”

Before we moved, I askedAsked - запитав her anotherAnother - інший, ще question. “Why does it say Traveling on your card?”

“I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow. So I told them to put Traveling. I didn’t need those cards but I wanted to buy something. They’re from Tiffany’s.” She took my hand. “Come with me. You’re going to make friends with O.J.” Suddenly the door opened andAnd - та a young woman hurried in. “H-H-Holly!” she said. “You areAre - бути, перебувати; ар so selfish. You kept allAll - всі, увесь, все, весь, цілий, ко... these wonderful men for yourself!” She was more than six feet tall, taller than most of the men in the room. Holly said angrilyAngrily - сердито, гнівно, “What areAre - бути, перебувати; ар you doing here?”

“N-n-nothing, darling. I was upstairs with Yunioshi. We’re taking photos for a Christmas magazine. AreAre - бути, перебувати; ар you angry[ˈæŋgrɪ] сердитий, розлючений , darling?” She smiled at the men in the room. “You b-b-boys aren’t angry[ˈæŋgrɪ] сердитий, розлючений  with me because I’ve come to the party?”

Rusty Trawler laughed quietly. “Do you want a drink?” he askedAsked - запитав.

“Yes, please,” she said.

“There isn’t anyAny - який,” Holly told her. “It’s finished.”

“Oh, that’s OK. Don’t worry about me, Holly, darling,” she said. “I can introduce myself.” She looked down at O.J. Berman. “I’m Mag W-w-wildwood, from Wild-w-w-wood, ArkansasArkansas - Арканзас, штат США, річка С.... That’s in the mountains.”

The men moved aroundAround - навколо, приблизно, біля, по... her. They liked her silly jokes. She wasn’t beautiful but she looked interesting. She was very tall andAnd - та had a flat chest. Her hair was pulled straight back, making her thin face thinner. Even her unusual speech made her silly words sound interesting. Men wanted to protect her. Here’s anAn - невизначений артикль example. She said, “Who can tell me w-w-where the b-b-bathroom is?”

Berman ran over to her. He offered his armArm - twisting to guide her there himself.

“That isn’t necessary,” said Holly. “She’s visited me before. She knows where the bathroom is.”

AfterAfter - після, потім, після того як, п... Mag Wildwood left the room, she continued. “It’s really very sad.” She waited until the men were listening to her. “AndAnd - та so mysterious. She looks healthy. She looks so clean. That’s the strange thing. Don’t you think she looks clean?”

Someone coughed. AnAn - невизначений артикль officer was holding Mag Wildwood’s drink. He put it down.

“But many of these Southern girls have the same trouble,” said Holly. She shook her head sadly andAnd - та went to the kitchen for more ice.

When Mag Wildwood returned, she couldn’t understand the change in the room. Nobody wanted to talk to her. Men were leaving without taking her telephone number. She became very angry[ˈæŋgrɪ] сердитий, розлючений  with everyone. She shouted at Holly. Then she invited a man in his fifties to fight. She pushed Rusty Trawler into a corner. “Do you know what’s going to happen to you?” she said, andAnd - та her speech problem disappeared. “I’m going to feed you to the animals in Central Park.”

He looked excited at the thought, but she suddenly sat down on the floor.

“You’re very boring. Get up from there,” Holly said. The men were waiting at the door andAnd - та she was putting on her coat. When Mag Wildwood didn’t move, Holly looked at me. “Be a darling, Fred. Put her in a taxi. She lives at the Winslow Hotel.”

Then they were gone. I looked at Mag. She was a big woman, too big to carry down to a taxi. But she suddenly stood up. She said, “Let’s go to the Stork Nightclub.” Then she fell down onto the floor. Was she sick? Did she need a doctor? But she wasn’t sick – she was asleepAsleep - сплячий, млявий. I left her to enjoy her rest.