Цветы для Элджернона

           Nowtherewereonlyoldpeoplestandingintheshadeoftiredporches.

           AsIapproachedthehouse,Ihadasecondshock.Mymotherwasonthefrontstoop,inanoldbrownsweater,washingthegroundfloorwindowsfromtheoutsideeventhoughitwascoldandwindy.Alwaysworkingtoshowtheneighborswhatagoodwifeandmothershewas.

           Themostimportantthinghadalwaysbeenwhatotherpeoplethought—appearancesbeforeherselforherfamily.Andrighteousaboutit.TimeandagainMatthadinsistedthatwhatothersthoughtaboutyouwasn’ttheonlythinginlife.Butitdidnogood.Normahadtodresswell;thehousehadtohavefinefurniture;Charliehadtobekeptinsidesothatotherpeoplewouldn’tknowany-thingwaswrong.

           Atthegate,Ipausedtowatchasshestraighteneduptocatchherbreath.Seeingherfacemademetremble,butitwasnotthefaceIhadstruggledsohardtorecall.Herhairhadbecomewhiteandstreakedwithiron,andthefleshofherthincheekswaswrinkled.Perspirationmadeherfore­headglisten.Shecaughtsightofmeandstaredback.

           Iwantedtolookaway,toturnbackdownthestreet,butIcouldn’t—notafterhavingcomesofar.Iwouldjustaskdirections,pretendingIwaslostinastrangeneighbor­hood.Seeingherhadbeenenough.ButallIdidwasstandtherewaitingforhertodosomethingfirst.Andallshedidwasstandthereandlookatme.

           "Doyouwantsomething?"Hervoice,hoarse,wasanunmistakableechodownthecorridorsofmemory.

           Iopenedmymouth,butnothingcameout.