Цветы для Элджернона

           Wouldtheyturnagainsthim?

           May25

           Sothisishowapersoncancometodespisehimself—knowinghe’sdoingthewrongthingandnotbeingabletostop.AgainstmywillIfoundmyselfdrawntoAlice’sapartment.Shewassurprisedbutsheletmein.

           "You’resoaked.Thewaterisstreamingdownyourface."

           "It’sraining.Goodfortheflowers."

           "Comeonin.Letmegetyouatowel.You’llcatchpneumonia."

           "You’retheonlyoneIcantalkto,"Isaid."Letmestay."

           "I’vegotapotoffreshcoffeeonthestove.Goaheadanddryyourselfandthenwecantalk"

           Ilookedaroundwhileshewenttogetthecoffee.ItwasthefirsttimeIhadeverbeeninsideherapartment.Ifeltasenseofpleasure,buttherewassomethingdisturbingabouttheroom.

           Everythingwasneat.Theporcelainfigurineswereinastraightlineonthewindow-ledge,allfacingthesameway.Andthethrow-pillowsonthesofahadn’tbeenthrownatall,butwereregularlyspacedontheclearplasticcoversthatprotectedtheupholstery.Twooftheendtableshadmagazines,neatlystackedsothatthetitleswereclearlyvis­ible.Ononetable:TheReporter,TheSaturdayReview,TheNewYorker;ontheother:Mademoiselle,HouseBeautiful,andReader’sDigest.

           Onthefarwall,acrossfromthesofa,hunganornatelyframedreproductionofPicasso’s"MotherandChild,"anddirectlyopposite,abovethesofa,wasapaintingofadash­ingRenaissancecourtier,masked,swordinhand,protect­ingafrightened,pink-cheekedmaiden.Takenalltogether,itwaswrong.