Цветы для Элджернона

           Look,it’scalledTheAlgernon-GordonEffect.Some­thingIdiscovered,andit’snamedpartlyafterme.Iwantyoutokeepacopyofthereportsothatyoucanshowpeoplethatyoursonturnedouttobemorethanadummyafterall."

           Shetookitandlookedatitinawe."It’s...it’syourname.Iknewitwouldhappen.Ialwayssaiditwouldhap­pensomeday.ItriedeverythingIcould.Youweretooyoungtoremember,butItried.Itoldthemallthatyou’dgotocollegeandbecomeaprofessionalmanandmakeyourmarkintheworld.Theylaughed,butItoldthem."

           Shesmiledatmethroughtears,andthenamomentlatershewasn’tlookingatmeanymore.Shepickedupherragandbegantowashthewoodworkaroundthekitchendoor,humming—morehappily,Ithought—asifinadream.

           Thedogstartedbarkingagain.Thefrontdooropenedandclosedandavoicecalled:"Okay,Nappie.Okay,it’sme."Thedogwasjumpingexcitedlyagainstthebedroomdoor.

           Iwasfuriousatbeingtrappedhere.Ididn’twanttoseeNorma.Wehadnothingtosaytoeachother,andIdidn’twantmyvisitspoiled.Therewasnobackdoor.Theonlywaywouldbetoclimboutthewindowintothebackyardandgooverthefence.Butsomeonemightmistakemeforaburglar.

           AsIheardherkeyinthedoor,Iwhisperedtomymother—Idon’tknowwhy—"Norma’shome."Itouchedherarm,butshedidn’thearme.Shewastoobusyhum­mingtoherselfasshewashedthewoodwork.

           Thedooropened.Normasawmeandfrowned.