Цветы для Элджернона
PROGRESS REPORT 14
Whatgoodwoulditdotoseehernow?Whatcouldshetellmeaboutmyself?Andyet,I’mcurious.Howwouldshereact?
ToseeherandtracebacktolearnwhatIwas?Ortoforgether?Isthepastworthknowing?Whyisitsoimportantformetosaytoher:"Mom,lookatme.I’mnotretardedanymore.I’mnormal.Betterthannormal.I’magenius?"
EvenasItrytogetheroutofmymind,thememoriesseepbackfromthepasttocontaminatethehereandnow.Anothermemory—whenIwasmucholder.
Aquarrel.
Charlielyinginbed,withthecoverspulleduparoundhim.Theroomdark,exceptforthethinlineofyellowlightfromthedoorajarthatpenetratesthedarknesstojoinbothworlds.Andhehearsthings,notunderstandingbutfeeling,becausetheraspoftheirvoicesislinkedtotheirtalkofhim.Moreandmore,eachday,hecomestoassociatethattonewithafrownwhentheyspeakofhim.
Hehasbeenalmostasleepwhenthroughthebaroflightthesoftvoiceswereraisedtothepitchofargument—hismother’svoicesharpwiththethreatofoneusedtohavingherwaythroughhysteria."He’sgottobesentaway.Idon’twanthiminthehouseanymotewithher.CallDr.PortmanandtellhimwewanttosendCharlietotheWarrenStateHome."
Myfather’svoiceisfirm,steadying."ButyouknowCharliewouldn’tharmher.Itcan’tmakeanydifferencetoheratthisage."
"Howdoweknow?Maybeithasabadeffectonachildtogrowupwith...someonelikehiminthehouse."
