Цветы для Элджернона

           Charlielooksatthemachinewithnewwonderandre­spect.ThemachinewillmakehimsmarterthanHymiewholivestwodoorsawayandknowshowtoreadandwriteandisintheBoyScouts."Isthatyourmachine?"

           "Notyet.Itbelongstothebank.Butsoonit’llbemine,andthenI’llbeabletomakelotsofboyslikeyousmart."HepatsCharlie’sheadandsays,"You’realotnicerthansomeofthenormalkidswhosemothersbringthemherehopingIcanmakegeniusesoutofthembyraisingtheirI.Q.’s."

           "Dotheybejean-assesifyouraisetheireyes?"Heputhishandstohisfacetoseeifthemachinehaddoneany­thingtoraisehiseyes."Yougonnamakemeajean-ass?"

           Guarino’slaughisfriendlyashesqueezesCharlie’sshoulder."No,Charlie.Nothingforyoutoworryabout.Onlynastylittledonkeysbecomejean-asses.You’llstayjustthewayyouare—anicekid."Andthen,thinkingbetterofitheadds:"Ofcourse,alittlesmarterthanyouarenow."

           HeunlocksthedoorandleadsCharlieouttohispar­ents."Hereheis,folks.Nonetheworsefortheexperience.Agoodboy.Ithinkwe’regoingtobegoodfriends,eh,Charlie?"

           Charlienods.HewantsDr.Guarinotolikehim,butheisterrifiedwhenheseestheexpressiononhismother’sface."Charlie!Whatdidyoudo?"

           "Justanaccident,Mrs.Gordon.Hewasfrightenedthefirsttime.Butdon’tblamehimorpunishhim.Iwouldn’twanthimtoconnectpunishmentwithcominghere."

           ButRoseGordonissickwithembarrassment."It’sdisgusting.Idon’tknowwhattodo,Dr.Guarino.