Цветы для Элджернона

           "Whatiftheychangetheirminds?Letmetrytocon­vincethem."Iwasmakingitharderforhimthanheex­pected.IknewIshouldstop,butIcouldn’tcontrolmyself."I’llmakethemunderstand,"Ipleaded.

           "Allright,"hesighedfinally."Goahead,try.Butyou’reonlygoingtohurtyourself."

           AsIcameoutofhisoffice,FrankReillyandJoeCarpwalkedbyme,andIknewwhathehadsaidwastrue.Hav­ingmearoundtolookatwastoomuchforthem.Imadethemalluncomfortable.

           FrankhadjustpickedupatrayofrollsandbothheandJoeturnedwhenIcalled."Look,Charlie,I’mbusy.Maybelater—"

           "No,"Iinsisted."Now—rightnow.Bothofyouhavebeenavoidingme.Why?"

           Frank,thefasttalker,thelathes’man,thearranger,studiedmeforamomentandthensetthetraydownonthetable."Why?I’lltellyouwhy.Becauseallofasuddenyou’reabigshot,aknow-it-all,abrain!Nowyou’reareg­ularwhizkid,anegghead.Alwayswithabook—alwayswithalltheanswers."Well,I’lltellyousomething.Youthinkyou’rebetterthantherestofushere?Okay,gosome­placeelse."

           "ButwhatdidIdotoyou?"

           "Whatdidhedo?Hearthat,Joe?I’lltellyouwhatyoudid,MisterGordon.Youcomepushinginherewithyourideasandsuggestionsandmaketherestofusalllooklikeabunchofdopes.ButI’lltellyousomething.Tomeyou’restillamoron.MaybeIdon’tunderstandsomeofthembigwordsorthenamesofthebooks,butI’masgoodasyouare—bettereven."

           "Yeah."