Цветы для Элджернона

           "Whentheboysawthathewasnotgoingtobepun­ished,hisfrightenedexpressiondisappeared,andhesmiledandhummedashecamebackwiththebroom.Afewoftherowdiercustomerskeptuptheremarks,amusingthemselvesathisexpense.

           "Here,sonny,overhere.There’sanicepiecebehindyou.."

           "C’mon,doitagain..."

           "He’snotsodumb.It’seasiertobreak’emthantowash’em..."

           Astheboy’svacanteyesmovedacrossthecrowdofamusedonlookers,heslowlymirroredtheirsmilesandfi­nallybrokeintoanuncertaingrinatthejokewhichhedidnotunderstand.

           IfeltsickinsideasIlookedathisdull,vacuoussmile—thewide,brighteyesofachild,uncertainbuteagertoplease,andIrealizedwhatIhadrecognizedinhim.Theywerelaughingathimbecausehewasretarded.

           AndatfirstIhadbeenamusedalongwiththerest.

           Suddenly,Iwasfuriousatmyselfandallthosewhoweresmirkingathim.Iwantedtopickupthedishesandthrowthem.Iwantedtosmashtheirlaughingfaces.Ijumpedupandshouted:"Shutup!Leavehimalone!Hecan’tunderstand.Hecan’thelpwhatheis...butforGod’ssake,havesomerespect!He’sahumanbeing!"

           Therestaurantgrewsilent.Icursedmyselfforlosingcontrolandcreatingascene,andItriednottolookattheboyasIpaidmycheckandwalkedoutwithouttouchingmyfood.Ifeltashamedforbothofus.