Цветы для Элджернона

           Ilookeduptoseeaboyoffifteenorsixteen,crouch­ingnearby."Hey!"Ishouted.Ashestoodup,Isawhistrouserswereopenandhewasexposed.

           "What’sthematter?"shegasped.

           Ijumpedup,andhevanishedintothedarkness."Didyouseehim?"

           "No,"shesaid,smoothingherskirtnervously."Ididn’tseeanyone."

           "Standingrighthere.Watchingus.Closeenoughtotouchyou."

           "Charlie,whereareyougoing?"

           "Hecouldn’thavegottenveryfar."

           "Leavehimalone,Charlie.Itdoesn’tmatter."

           Butitmatteredtome.Iranintothedarkness,stumblingoverstartledcouples,buttherewasnowaytotellwherehehadgone.

           ThemoreIthoughtabouthim,theworsebecamethequeasyfeelingthatcomesbeforefainting.Lostandaloneinagreatwilderness.AndthenIcaughtholdofmyselfandfoundmywaybacktowhereAlicewassitting.

           "Didyoufindhim?"

           "No,buthewasthere.Isawhim."

           Shelookedatmestrangely."Areyouallright?"

           "Iwillbe...inaminute...Justthatdamnedbuzzinginmyears."

           "Maybewe’dbettergo."

           Allthewaybacktoherapartment,itwasonmymindthattheboyhadbeencrouchingthereinthedarkness,andforonesecondIhadcaughtaglimpseofwhathewassee­ing—thetwoofuslyingineachother’sarms.

           "Wouldyouliketocomein?Icouldmakesomecoffee."

           Iwantedto,butsomethingwarnedmeagainstit"Betternot.I’vegotalotofworktodotonight."

           "Charlie,isitanythingIsaidordid?"

           "Ofcoursenot.Justthatkidwatchingusupsetme."

           Shewasstandingclosetome,waitingformetokiss

           her.