Цветы для Элджернона

           TheotherswhorememberedmewavedtomeandIwavedback.Suddenly,IcouldseebyAlice’sexpressionthatshewasannoyed.

           "It’salmosteighto’clock,"sheannounced."Timetoputthingsaway."

           Eachpersonhadanassignedtask,theputtingawayofchalk,erasers,papers,books,pencils,notepaper,paints,anddemonstrationmaterial.Eachoneknewhisjobandtookprideindoingitwell.TheyallstartedontheirtasksexceptBernice.Shewasstaringatme.

           "Whyain’tCharliebeencomingtoschool?"askedBernice."What’sthematter,Charlie?Areyoucomingback?"

           Theotherslookedupatme.IlookedtoAlice,waitingforhertoanswerforme,andtherewasalongsilence.WhatcouldItellthemthatwouldnothurtthem?

           "Thisisjustavisit,"Isaid.

           Oneofthegirlsstartedtogiggle—Francine,whomAlicewasalwaysworriedabout.Shehadgivenbirthtothreechildrenbythetimeshewaseighteen,beforeherpar­entsarrangedforahysterectomy.Shewasn’tpretty—notnearlyasattractiveasBernice—butshehadbeenaneasymarkfordozensofmenwhoboughthersomethingpretty,orpaidherwaytothemovies.ShelivedataboardinghouseapprovedforoutsideworktraineesbytheWarren

           StateHome,andwaspermittedoutintheeveningstocometotheCenter.Twiceshehadn’tshownup—pickedupbymenonthewaytoschool—andnowshewasal­lowedoutonlywithanescort.

           "Hetalkslikeabigshotnow,"shegiggled.

           "Allright,"saidAlice,breakinginsharply."Classdis­missed.I’llseeyoualltomorrownightatsix."