Цветы для Элджернона

           BeforeNorma:theargumentsthatweren’taboutmoneyorimpressingtheneighborswereaboutme—thatIshouldbeletaloneinsteadofbeingpushedtodowhatotherkidsdid.AndafterNorma:thatIhadarighttoalifeofmyowneventhoughIwasn’tlikeotherchildren.Alwaysde­fendingme.Icouldn’twaittoseetheexpressiononhisface.HewassomeoneI’dbeabletosharethiswith.

           WentworthStreetwasarundownsectionoftheBronx.Mostofthestoresonthestreethad"ForRent"signsinthewindows,andotherswereclosedfortheday.Buthalfwaydowntheblockfromthebusstoptherewasabarberpolereflectingacandycaneoflightfromthewindow.

           Theshopwasemptyexceptforthebarberreadingamagazineinthechairnearestthewindow.Whenhelookedupatme,IrecognizedMatt—stocky,red-cheeked,alotolderandnearlybaldwithafringeofgrayhairbor­deringthesidesofhishead—butstillMatt.Seeingmeatthedoor,hetossedthemagazineaside.

           "Nowaiting.You’renext."

           Ihesitated,andhemisunderstood."Usuallynotopenatthishour,mister.Hadanappointmentwithoneofmyregulars,buthedidn’tshow.Justabouttoclose.LuckyforyouIsatdowntorestmyfeet.BesthaircutandshaveintheBronx."

           AsIletmyselfbedrawnintotheshop,hebustledaround,pullingoutscissorsandcombsandafreshneckcloth.

           "Everythingsanitary,asyoucansee,whichismorethanIcansayformostbarbershopsinthisneighborhood.Haircutandshave?"

           Ieasedmyselfintothechair.