Цветы для Элджернона

           ShementionedHimquiteoften,andIhadtopraytoHimatnight,butIneverthoughtmuchaboutit.IrememberHimasadistantunclewithalongbeardonathrone(likeSantaClausinthedepartmentstoreonhisbigchair,whopicksyouuponhiskneeandasksyouifyou’vebeengood,andwhatwouldyoulikehimtogiveyou?).ShewasafraidofHim,butaskedfavorsanyway.MyfathernevermentionedHim—itwasasifGodwasoneofRose’srelativeshe’drathernotgetinvolvedwith.

           "We’rereadytotakeoff,sir.MayIhelpyoufastenyourseatbelt?"

           "DoIhaveto?Idon’tliketobestrappeddown."

           "Untilwe’reairborne."

           "I’drathernot,unlessit’snecessary.I’vegotthisfearofbeingstrappedin.It’llprobablymakemesick."

           "It’sregulations,sir.Here,letmehelpyou."

           "No!I’lldoitmyself."

           "No...thatonegoesthroughhere."

           "Wait,uh....Okay."

           Ridiculous.There’snothingtobeafraidof.Seatbeltisn’ttootight—doesn’thurt.Whyshouldputtingonthedamnedseatbeltbesoterrifying?That,andthevibrationsoftheplanetakingoff.Anxietyalloutofproportiontothesituation...soitmustbesomething...what?...flyingupintoandthroughdarkclouds...fastenyourseatbelts...strappeddown...strainingforward...odorofsweatyleather...vibrationsandaroaringsoundinmyears.

           Throughthewindow—intheclouds—IseeCharlie.Ageisdifficulttotell,aboutfiveyearsold.