Цветы для Элджернона

           Hefinishedshavingmesilently,andthenbroughtthesun-tanlampovertothechairandputcoolwhitepadsofcottonsoakedinwitchhazelovermyeyes.There,inthebrightredinnerdarknessIsawwhathappenedthenighthetookmeawayfromthehouseforthelasttime....

           Charlieisasleepintheotherroom,buthewakenstothesoundofhismothershrieking.Hehaslearnedtosleepthroughquarrels—theyareaneverydayoccurrenceinhishouse.Buttonightthereissomethingterriblywronginthathysteria.Heshrinksbackintothepillowandlistens.

           "Ican’thelpit!He’sgottogo!We’vegothertothinkabout.Iwon’thavehercomehomefromschoolcryingeverydaylikethisbecausethechildrenteaseher.Wecan’tdestroyherchanceforanormallifebecauseofhim."

           "Whatdoyouwanttodo?Turnhimoutintothestreet?"

           "Puthimaway.SendhimtotheWarrenStateHome."

           "Let’stalkitoverinthemorning."

           "No.Allyoudoistalk,talk,andyoudon’tdoany­thing.Idon’twanthimhereanotherday.Now—tonight."

           "Don’tbefoolish,Rose.It’stoolatetodoanything...tonight.You’reshoutingsoloudeveryonewillhearyou."

           "Idon’tcare.Hegoesouttonight.Ican’tstandlook­ingathimanymore."

           "You’rebeingimpossible,Rose.Whatareyoudoing?"

           "Iwarnyou.Gethimoutofhere."

           "Putthatknifedown."

           "I’mnotgoingtohaveherlifedestroyed."

           "You’recrazy.Putthatknifeaway."

           "He’sbetteroffdead.He’llneverbeabletoliveanor­mallife.He’llbebetteroff—"

           "You’reoutofyourmind.