Цветы для Элджернона

           Headingtowardthecrosstownbus,Ipassedaliquorstore,andwithoutthinkingaboutit,Iwentinandboughtafifthofgin.WhileIwaitedforthebus,IopenedthebottleinthebagasIhadseenbumsdo,andItookalong,deepdrink.Itburnedallthewaydown,butitfeltgood.Itookanother—justasip—andbythetimethebuscame,Iwasbathedinapowerfultinglingsensation.Ididn’ttakeanymore.Ididn’twanttogetdrunknow.

           WhenIgottotheapartment,IknockedatFay’sdoor.Therewasnoanswer.Iopenedthedoorandlookedin.Shehadn’tcomeinyet,butallthelightswereonintheplace.Shedidn’tgiveadamnaboutanything.Whycouldn’tIbethatway?

           Iwenttomyownplacetowait.Iundressed,tookashowerandputonarobe.Iprayedthatthiswouldn’tbeoneofthenightsthatsomeonecamehomewithher.

           AbouttwothirtyinthemorningIheardhercomingupthesteps.Itookmybottle,climbedoutontothefirees­capeandslippedovertoherwindowjustasherfrontdooropened.Ihadn’tintendedtocrouchthereandwatch.Iwasgoingtotaponthewindow.ButasIraisedmyhandtomakemypresenceknown,Isawherkickhershoesoffandtwirlaroundhappily.Shewenttothemirror,andslowly,piecebypiece,begantopulloffherclothesinaprivatestriptease.Itookanotherdrink.ButIcouldn’tletherknowIhadbeenwatchingher.

           Iwentthroughmyownapartmentwithoutturningonthelights.