Цветы для Элджернона

           Incrediblethathedidn’trecognizemewhenIknewhimsoplainly.Ihadtoremindmyselfthathehadnotseenmeinmorethanfifteenyears,andthatmyappearancehadchangedevenmoreinthepastmonths.Hestudiedmeinthemirrornowthathehadmecoveredwiththestripedneckcloth,andIsawafrownoffeintrecognition.

           "Theworks,"Isaid,noddingattheunion-shoppricelist,"haircut,shave,shampoo,sun-tan..."

           Hiseyebrowswentup.

           "I’vegottomeetsomeoneIhaven’tseeninalongtime,"Iassuredhim,"andIwanttolookmybest."

           Itwasafrighteningsensation,havinghimcutmyhairagain.Later,ashestroppedtherazoragainstleathertheharshwhispermademecringe.Ibentmyheadunderthegentlepressofhishandandfeltthebladescrapecarefullyacrossmyneck.Iclosedmyeyesandwaited.ItwasasifIwereontheoperatingtableagain.

           Myneckmuscleknotted,andwithoutwarningittwitched.ThebladenickedmejustabovetheAdam’sapple.

           "Hey!"heshouted."Jesus...takeiteasy.Youmoved.Hey,I’mawfulsorry."

           Hedashedtowetatowelatthesink.

           InthemirrorIwatchedthebrightredbubbleandthethinlinedrippingdownmythroat.Excitedandapologiz­ing,hegottoitbeforeitreachedtheneckcloth.

           Watchinghimmove,adroitforsuchashort,heavyman,Ifeltguiltyatthedeception.IwantedtotellhimwhoIwasandhavehimputhisarmaroundmyshoulder,sowecouldtalkabouttheolddays.ButIwaitedwhilehedabbedatthecutwithstypticpowder.