We Are What We Pretend to Be by Kurt Vonnegut

Author:Kurt Vonnegut [Vonnegut, Kurt]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Published: 2012-08-13T14:00:00+00:00

IX.

“Haley, it’s morning, time to get up,” said Annie, shaking Haley’s shoulder diffidently, then stepping back to a respectful distance, her hands at her sides, her lips pursed. She repeated the procedure several times, each time gently, until Haley rolled over on his back, yawned, and blinked at the sunbeams.

“What time is it?” he mumbled. He still tingled with the delicious warmth of sleep, mixed with the insolent exhilaration of an awakening hero. He studied Annie’s uncustomary humility. There was no doubt about it; the high adventure had not been dreams. He was a hero.

“Eight o’clock, Haley. The General said we could all sleep late. Remember? I’ve got breakfast all ready, and the General and Hope are up and around. If you feel like coming down—”

“I’ll be down in twenty minutes or so,” said Haley.

“I’ll keep everything warm in the oven until you’re ready.”

“Good.”

Annie started to leave, but stopped in the doorway for an instant. When she turned, Haley saw that her lower lip was trembling. “Haley, what you did last night was the most wonderful thing I ever saw or heard of,” she said. She left, dabbing at her fat cheeks with her apron corner.

“Thank you,” he called after her, bounding from his bed. He walked over to his dresser and picked up the two hairbrushes the General had given him. He scrubbed his hair into a natty part, leaned his elbows on the dresser top, and winked at himself in the mirror.

When he sauntered into the kitchen, he was greeted by cheery good-mornings from Annie and Hope. The General cleared his throat by way of salutation and gave him a stiff, unsmiling nod.

“Sleep well?” said the General.

“Yessir.”

“That’s good.” The General paused and toyed nervously with a spoon, as though he were thinking hard about what he was going to say next. He laid the spoon down. “I always say it does a man good to sleep late now and then, but it dulls the wits to overdo it.”

Disappointed that the General had nothing to say about the night before, Haley pulled out his chair and sat down. Annie immediately placed a dish before him, heaped to its rim with enough scrambled eggs and bacon for a dozen hungry lumberjacks.

“They say Banghart’s going to live,” said the General, his face hidden behind the morning paper. “They winged him in the legs.”

“I’m glad they didn’t kill him,” said Haley.

“I’m glad he didn’t kill you, Haley,” said Hope, looking at Haley with a worshipful gaze he couldn’t meet.

The General lowered his paper for a moment. “Or me, either,” he added, shaking his head. He stared at Haley, again with the thoughtful expression that seemed to portend a profound pronouncement. “Haley,” he began, “I, ah—” He faltered and looked away from Haley. “I’d like to say that—” He stopped again, his eyes fixed on the kitchen clock. “Where’s Kitty?” he demanded, the old authority returning to his voice.

“She didn’t get in until late,” said Annie.

“How late?”

“About 3 a.m., I think,” said Annie. “I heard her come in.

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