„US” de David Nicholls

Nu știu cum se face, dar în cercul nostru de prieteni, evenimentele importante din viața noastră s-au petrecut aproape în același timp. 

Cînd eram tineri și necăsătoriți așa erau și prietenii noștri.
„The early days of any relationship are punctuated with a series of firsts- first sight, first words, first laugh, first kiss, first nudity, etc.”

După ce o pereche a „spart gheața” și s-a căsătorit, am început și noi, ceilalți, să ne căsătorim. Spirit de turmă, ce să zic.
„We married and that was fun.We had been guests at so many weddings, Connie and I, that it had sometimes felt that we had been attending a three-year part-time course in wedding management.
Then the „I do’s”, the exchange of rings, the posing for photographs. I enjoyed it all, but weddings turn the bride and groom into performers and we were, I think, both a little self-conscious with each other that day, neither of us used to being the centre of attention.”

Cînd unii dintre prieteni au făcut copii, nu ne-am lăsat mai prejos și i-am făcut și noi pe ai noștri. 
„- Douglas, I think we’ve done it. In fact, I know we have.
– Done what? What have we done?
– I’m pregnant. I know it.
– I know it too.”

Însă, odată cu nașterea copiilor au apărut și noi certuri. Despre educația copiilor de această dată.
„Connie and I also argued.
Raising Albie accentuated the differences between us, differences that had seemed merely entertaining in the carefree days before parenthood.
She was, to my mind, absurdly informal and laissez faire. „He can do anything he wants”, she said, „as long as he’s happy and cool”. Of course Connie cajoled and encouraged him and made him do his homework, but still she felt that his natural qualities and talents would make themselves known unaided.
I did not believe in natural talents. For me, nothing had ever come naturally, not even science. I had been obliged to work hard, often with my parents standing at either shoulder, and saw no reason why Albie shouldn’t too.”

Iar acum, cînd suntem în apropierea vîrstei de 50 ani iar copiii noștri sunt mari, începem încet-încet să divorțăm. Din păcate!

Editura: Hodder&Stoughton, 2014