Цветы для Элджернона

           No,IhadneverbeentoNewportNews,Virginia.That’swhereshewasfrom,andwhereshehadmarriedthissailorwhowasatseanow,andshehadn’tseenhimintwoandahalfyears.

           Shetwistedandknottedahandkerchief,usingitfromtimetotimetowipethebeadedsweatfromherforehead.Eveninthedimlightreflectedfromthelake,Icouldseethatsheworeagreatdealofmake-up,butshelookedat­tractivewithherstraightdarkhairloosetohershoul­ders—exceptthatherfacewaspuffyandswollenasifshehadjustgottenupfromsleep.Shewantedtotalkaboutherself,andIwantedtolisten.

           Herfatherhadgivenheragoodhome,aneducation,everythingawealthyshipbuildercouldgivehisonlydaughter—butnotforgiveness.Hewouldneverforgiveherelopementwiththesailor.

           Shetookmyhandasshespoke,andrestedherheadonmyshoulder."ThenightGaryandIweremarried,"shewhispered,"Iwasaterrifiedvirgin.Andhejustwentcrazy.First,hehadtoslapmeandbeatme.Andthenhetookmewithnolove-making.Thatwasthelasttimewewereevertogether.Ineverlethimtouchmeagain."

           ShecouldprobablytellbythetremblingofmyhandthatIwasstartled.Itwastooviolentandintimateforme.Feelingmyhandstir,shegrippedittighterasifshehadtofinishherstorybeforeshecouldletmego.Itwasimpor­tanttoher,andIsatquietlyasonesitsbeforeabirdthatfeedsfromyourpalm.

           "NotthatIdon’tlikemen,"sheassuredmewithwide-eyedopenness."I’vebeenwithothermen.Nothim,butlotsofothers.