Цветы для Элджернона

           AndI’mgoingtocallhimNapoleonbecausethatwasthequestionIansweredbestonthetest.NapoleonlostthebattleofWaterloo."

           Rosenods."GooutontheporchandplaywithChar­lie.He’sbeenwaitingoveranhourforyoutocomehomefromschool."

           "Idon’twanttoplaywithhim."

           "Gooutontheporch,"saysMatt.

           NormalooksatherfatherandthenatCharlie."I

           don’thaveto.MothersaidIdon’thavetoplaywithhimifIdon’twantto."

           "Now,younglady"—Mattrisesoutofhischairandcomestowardher—"youjustapologizetoyourbrother."

           "Idon’thaveto,"shescreeches,rushingbehindhermother’schair."He’slikeababy.Hecan’tplayMonopolyorcheckersoranything...hegetseverythingallmixedup.Iwon’tplaywithhimanymore."

           "Thengotoyourroom!"

           "CanIhaveadognow,Mama?"

           Matthitsthetablewithhisfist."There’llbenodoginthishouseaslongasyoutakethisattitude,younglady."

           "Ipromisedheradogifshedidwellinschool—"

           "Abrownonewithwhitespots!"addsNorma.

           MattpointstoCharliestandingnearthewall."Didyouforgetyoutoldyoursonhecouldn’thaveonebecausewedidn’thavetheroom,andnoonetotakecareofit.Re­member?Whenheaskedforadog?Areyougoingbackonwhatyousaidtohim?"

           "ButIcantakecareofmyowndog,"insistsNorma."I’llfeedhim,andwashhim,andtakehimout..."

           Charlie,whohasbeenstandingnearthetable,playingwithhislargeredbuttonattheendofastring,suddenlyspeaksout.