Цветы для Элджернона

           Andwemayhaveroomfortwenty-fiveorthirtyofthembytheendoftheyear."

           "Wherearethosefourteenhundrednow?"

           "Home.Ontheoutside,waitingforanopeninghereorinsomeotherinstitution.Yousee,ourspaceproblemisnotliketheusualhospitalovercrowding.Ourpatientsusu­allycomeheretostayfortherestoftheirlives."

           Aswearrivedatthenewschoolbuilding,aone-storyglass-and-concretestructurewithlargepicturewindows,Itriedtoimaginewhatitwouldbelikewalkingthroughthesecorridorsasapatient.Ivisualizedmyselfinthemiddleofalineofmenandboyswaitingtoenteraclass­room.PerhapsI’dbeoneofthosepushinganotherboyinawheelchair,orguidingsomeoneelsebythehand,orcuddlingasmallerboyinmyarms.

           Inoneofthewoodworkingclassrooms,whereagroupofolderboysweremakingbenchesunderateacherssu­pervision,theyclusteredaroundus,eyeingmecuriously.Theteacherputdownthesawandcametowardsus.

           "ThisisMr.GordonfromBeekmanUniversity,"saidWinslow."Wantstolookoversomeofourpatients.He’sthinkingofbuyingtheplace."

           Theteacherlaughedandwavedathispupils."Well,ifheb-buysit,he’sg-gottot-takeuswithit.Andhe’sg-gottogetussomemorew-woodtow-workwith."

           Asheshowedmearoundtheshop,Inoticedhowstrangelyquiettheboyswere.Theywentonwiththeirworkofsandingorvarnishingthenewlyfinishedbenches,buttheydidn’ttalk.

           "Thesearemys-silentb-boys,youknow,"hesaid,asifhesensedmyunspokenquestion."D-deafm-mutes."