Цветы для Элджернона

           "Yeah,"shelaughedstrongly,"butWednesdayweturnthemattresses.ItsmellsalotbetterhereonThursday."

           Inoticedthatshekepttomyleftsothattheblotchonherfacewashidden.Shetookmethroughthedormitory,thelaundry,thesupplyrooms,andthedininghall—nowsetandwaitingforthefoodtobedeliveredfromthecen­tralcommissary.Shesmiledasshetalked,andherexpres­sionandthehairpiledinabunhighonherheadmadeherlooklikeaLautrecdancerbutsheneverlookedstraightatme.Iwonderedwhatitwouldbelikelivingherewithhertowatchoverme.

           "They’reprettygoodhereinthisbuilding,"shesaid."Butyouknowwhatitis.Threehundredboys—seventy-fiveonafloor—andonlyfiveofustolookafterthem.It’snoteasytokeepthemundercontrol.Butit’salotbetterthantheuntidycottages.Thestafftheredoesn’tlastverylong."Withbabiesyoudon’tmindsomuch,butwhentheygettobeadultsandstillcan’tcareforthemselves,itcanbeanastymess."

           "Youseemtobeaveryniceperson,"Isaid."Theboysarefortunatetohaveyouastheirhouse-supervisor."

           Shelaughedheartilystilllookingstraightahead,andshowedherwhiteteeth."Nobetterorworsethantherest.I’mveryfondofmyboys.It’snoteasywork,butit’sre­wardingwhenyouthinkhowmuchtheyneedyou."Thesmileleftherforamoment."Normalkidsgrowuptoosoon,stopneedingyou...gooffontheirown...forgetwholovedthemandtookcareofthem.Butthesechildrenneedallyoucangive—alloftheirlives."