Цветы для Элджернона

           It’sonTwenty-thirdStreet,eastofFifthAv­enue,inanoldschoolhousethathasbeenusedbytheBeekmanUniversityClinicforthelastfiveyearsasacen­terforexperimentaleducation—specialclassesforthehandicapped.Thesignoutsideonthedoorway,framedbytheoldspikedgateway,isjustagleamingbrassplatethatsaysC.R.A.BeekmanExtension.

           Herclassendedateight,butIwantedtoseetheroomwhere—notsolongago—Ihadstruggledoversimplereadingandwritingandlearnedtocountchangeofadollar.

           Iwentinside,slippeduptothedoor,and,keepingoutofsight,Ilookedthroughthewindow.Alicewasatherdesk,andinachairbesideherwasathin-facedwomanIdidn’trecognize.Shewasfrowningthatopenfrownofun­concealedpuzzlement,andIwonderedwhatAlicewastry­ingtoexplain.

           NeartheblackboardwasMikeDorniinhiswheel­chair,andthereinhisusualfirst-rowfirst-seatwasLesterBraun,who,Alicesaid,wasthesmartestinthegroup.LesterhadlearnedeasilywhatIhadstruggledover,buthecamewhenhefeltlikeit,orhestayedawaytoearnmoneywaxingfloors.Iguessifhehadcaredatall—ifithadbeenimportanttohimasitwastome—theywouldhaveusedhimforthisexperiment.Therewerenewfaces,too,peopleIdidn’tknow.

           Finally,Igotupthenervetogoin.

           "It’sCharlie!"saidMike,whirlinghiswheelchairaround.

           Iwavedtohim.

           Bernice,theprettyblondewithemptyeyes,lookedupandsmileddully."Whereyabeen,Charlie?That’sanicesuit."