Цветы для Элджернона

           They’retakencareof—thesixtyandseventyI.Q.’s—moreandmoreinthecityschoolsinspecialclasses,orelsetherearecommunityfacilitiesforcaringforthem.Mostoftheoneswegetareabletoliveout,infosterhomes,boardinghouses,anddosimpleworkonthefarmsorinamenialcapacityinfactoriesorlaundries—"

           "Orbakeries,"Isuggested.

           Shefrowned."Yes,Iguesstheymightbeabletodothat.Now,wealsoclassifyourchildren(Icallthemallchildren,nomatterwhattheiragesare,they’reallchildrenhere),weclassifythemastidyoruntidy.Itmakesthead­ministrationoftheircottagesaloteasieriftheycanbekeptwiththeirownlevels.Someoftheuntidiesareseverelybrain-damagedcases,keptincribs,andtheywillbecaredforthatwayfortherestoftheirlives..."

           "Oruntilsciencefindsawaytohelpthem."

           "Oh,"shesmiled,explainingtomecarefully,"I’mafraidthesearebeyondhelp."

           "Nooneisbeyondhelp."

           Shepeeredatme,uncertainlynow."Yes,yes,ofcourse,you’reright.Wemusthavehope."

           Imadehernervous.Ismiledtomyselfatthethoughtofhowitwouldbeiftheybroughtmebackhereasoneofherchildren.WouldIbetidyornot?

           BackatWinslow’soffice,wehadcoffeeashetalkedabouthiswork."It’sagoodplace,"hesaid."Wehavenopsychiatristsonourstaff—onlyanoutsideconsultingmanwhocomesinonceeverytwoweeks.Butit’sjustaswell.

           Everyoneofthepsychstaffisdedicatedtohiswork.