Цветы для Элджернона

           Asshedidit,sheconcentratedsohardthatIkeptsilent,afraidofbreakingthespell.Occasionallyshecluckedhertongue,orsighed,"Charlie,Charlie,alwaysgettingyourselfintoamess.Whenareyougoingtolearntotakecareofyour­self?"Shewasbacktwenty-fiveyearsearlierwhenIwasherlittleCharlieandshewaswillingtofightformyplaceintheworld.

           Whenthebloodwaswashedoffandshehaddriedmyhandswithpapertoweling,shelookedupintomyfaceandhereyeswentroundwithfright."Oh,myGod!"shegasped,andbackedaway.

           Istartedtalkingagain,softly,persuasivelytoconvinceherthatnothingwaswrongandImeantnoharm.ButasIspokeIcouldtellhermindwaswandering.Shelookedaroundvaguely,putherhandtohermouthandgroanedasshelookedatmeagain."Thehouseissuchamess,"shesaid."Iwasn’texpectingcompany.Lookatthosewindows,andthatwoodworkoverthere."

           "That’sallright,Ma.Don’tworryaboutit."

           "I’vegottowaxthosefloorsagain.It’sgottobeclean."Shenoticedsomefingermarksonthedoorandtak­ingupherwashragshescrubbedthemaway.Whenshelookedupandsawmewatchingher,shefrowned."Haveyoucomeabouttheelectricbill?"

           BeforeIcouldsayno,shewaggedherfinger,scolding,"Iintendtosendacheckoutthefirstofthemonth,butmyhusbandisoutoftownonbusiness.Itoldthemalltheydon’thavetoworryaboutthemoney,becausemydaughtergetspaidthisweek,andwe’llbeabletotakecareofallourbills.Sothere’snoneedbotheringmeformoney."