Цветы для Элджернона

           Evenathomeheforgets—andsometimeswhenwehavepeopleinthehouse.I’msoashamedwhenhedoesthat."

           Thelookofdisgustonhismother’sfacesetshimtrembling.Forashortwhilehehadforgottenhowbadheis,howhemakeshisparentssuffer.Hedoesn’tknowhow,butitfrightenshimwhenshesayshemakeshersuffer,andwhenshecriesandscreamsathim,heturnshisfacetothewallandmoanssoftlytohimself.

           "Nowdon’tupsethim,Mrs.Gordon,anddon’tworry.BringhimtomeonTuesdayandThursdayeachweekatthesametime."

           "Butwillthisreallydoanygood?"asksMatt."Tendollarsisalotof—"

           "Matt!"sheclutchesathissleeve."Isthatanythingtotalkaboutatatimelikethis?Yourownfleshandblood,andmaybeDr.Guarinocanmakehimlikeotherchildren,withtheLord’shelp,andyoutalkaboutmoney!"

           MattGordonstartstodefendhimself,butthen,thinkingbetterofit,hepullsouthiswallet.

           "Please..."sighsGuarino,asifembarrassedatthesightofmoney."Myassistantatthefrontdeskwilltakecareofallthefinancialarrangements.Thankyou."HehalfbowstoRose,shakesMatt’shandandpatsCharlieontheback"Niceboy.Verynice."Then,smilingagain,hedis­appearsbehindthedoortotheinneroffice.

           Theyargueallthewayhome,Mattcomplainingthatbarbersupplysaleshavefallenoff,andthattheirsavingsaredwindling,RosescreechingbackthatmakingCharlienormalismoreimportantthananythingelse.

           Frightenedbytheirquarreling,Charliewhimpers.Thesoundofangerintheirvoicesispainfultohim.