Цветы для Элджернона

           Shewipedherfaceinherapron,andwhenIputmyarmaroundher,sheweptfreelyonmyshoulder.Allthepainwaswashedaway,andIwasgladIhadcome.

           "I’vegottotelleveryone,"shesaid,smiling,"allthoseteachersattheschool.Oh,waittillyouseetheirfaceswhenItellthem.Andtheneighbors.AndUncleHer­man—I’vegottotellUncleHerman.He’llbesopleased.Andwaituntilyourfathercomeshome,andyoursister!Oh,she’llbesohappytoseeyou.Youhavenoidea."

           Shehuggedme,talkingexcitedly,makingplansforthenewlifeweweregoingtohavetogether.Ihadn’tthehearttoremindherthatmostofmychildhoodteachersweregonefromthisschool,thattheneighborshadlongmovedaway,thatUncleHermanhaddiedmanyyearsago,andthatmyfatherhadlefther.Thenightmareofallthoseyearshadbeenpainenough.IwantedtoseehersmilingandknowIhadbeentheonetomakeherhappy.Forthefirsttimeinmylife,Ihadbroughtasmiletoherlips.

           Thenafterawhile,shepausedthoughtfullyasifre­memberingsomething.Ihadthefeelinghermindwasgoingtowander."No!"Ishouted,startlingherbacktore­ality,"Wait,Ma!There’ssomethingelse.SomethingIwantyoutohavebeforeIgo."

           "Go?Youcan’tgoawaynow."

           "Ihavetogo,Ma.Ihavethingstodo.ButI’llwritetoyou,andI’llsendyoumoney."

           "Butwhenwillyoucomeback?"

           "Idon’tknow—yet.ButbeforeIgo,Iwantyoutohavethis."

           "Amagazine?"

           "Notexactly.It’sascientificreportIwrote.Verytech­nical.