Цветы для Элджернона

           ThoughIalwaysruntothebakery,thedoorislocked,andthepeopleinsideneverturntolookatme.Throughthewindow,thebrideandgroomontheweddingcakepointatmeandlaugh—theairbecomeschargedwithlaughteruntilIcan’tstandit—andthetwocupidswavetheirflamingarrows.Iscream.Ipoundonthedoor,butthereisnosound.IseeCharliestaringbackatmefrominside.Isitonlyareflection?Thingsclutchatmylegsanddragmeawayfromthebakerydownintotheshadowsofthealleyway,andjustastheybegintooozeallovermeIwakeup.

           OthertimesthewindowofthebakeryopensintothepastandlookingthroughitIseeotherthingsandotherpeople.

           It’sastonishinghowmypowerofrecallisdeveloping.Icannotcontrolitcompletelyyet,butsometimeswhenI’mbusyreadingorworkingonaproblem,Igetafeelingofintenseclarity.

           Iknowit’ssomekindofsubconsciouswarningsignal,andnowinsteadofwaitingforthememorytocometome,Iclosemyeyesandreachoutforit.Eventually,I’llbeabletobringthisrecallcompletelyundercontrol,toex­plorenotonlythesumofmypastexperiences,butalsoalloftheuntappedfacultiesofthemind.

           Evennow,asIthinkaboutit,Ifeelthesharpstillness.Iseethebakerywindow...reachoutandtouchit...coldandvibrating,andthentheglassbecomeswarm...hot­ter...fingersburning.