Цветы для Элджернона

           Andwhataboutme?

           July28

           Fayhasanewboyfriend.Iwenthomelastnighttobewithher.Iwenttomyroomfirsttogetabottleandthenheadedoveronthefireescape.ButfortunatelyIlookedbeforegoingin.Theyweretogetheronthecouch.Strange,Idon’treallycare.It’salmostarelief.

           IwentbacktothelabtoworkwithAlgernon.Hehasmomentsoutofhislethargy.Periodically,hewillrunashiftingmaze,butwhenhefailsandfindshimselfinadead-end,hereactsviolently.WhenIgotdowntothelab,Ilookedin.Hewasalertandcameuptomeasifheknewme.Hewaseagertowork,andwhenIsethimdownthroughthetrapdoorinthewiremeshofthemaze,hemovedswiftlyalongthepathwaystotherewardbox.Twiceheranthemazesuccessfully.Thethirdtime,hegothalfwaythrough,pausedatanintersection,andthenwithatwitchingmovementtookthewrongturn.Icouldseewhatwasgoingtohappen,andIwantedtoreachdownandtakehimoutbeforeheendedupinablindalley.ButIrestrainedmyselfandwatched.

           Whenhefoundhimselfmovingalongtheunfamiliarpath,hesloweddown,andhisactionsbecameerratic:start,pause,doubleback,turnaroundandthenforwardagain,untilfinallyhewasinthecul-de-sacthatinformedhimwithamildshockthathehadmadeamistake.Atthispoint,insteadofturningbacktofindanalternateroute,hebegantomoveincircles,squeakinglikeaphonographneedlescratchedacrossthegrooves.