Цветы для Элджернона

           EversinceIreadthatyouhadrunawayinChicago."Shepulledbacktolookupatme."Youdon’tknowhowI’vethoughtaboutyouandwonderedwhereyouwereandwhatyouweredoing.Untilthatprofessorcameherelast—whenwasit?lastMarch?justsevenmonthsago?—Ihadnoideayouwerestillalive.ShetoldmeyoudiedinWarren.Ibe­lieveditalltheseyears.Whentheytoldmeyouwerealiveandtheyneededyoufortheexperiment,Ididn’tknowwhattodo.Professor...Nemur?—isthathisname?—wouldn’tletmeseeyou.Hewasafraidtoupsetyoubeforetheoperation.ButwhenIsawinthepapersthatitworkedandyouhadbecomeagenius—oh,my!—youdon’tknowwhatitfeltliketoreadaboutthat.

           "Itoldallthepeopleinmyoffice,andthegirlsatmybridgeclub.Ishowedthemyourpictureinthepaper,andItoldthemyou’dbecomingbackheretoseeusoneday.Andyouhave.Youreallyhave.Youdidn’tforgetus."

           Shehuggedmeagain."Oh,Charlie.Charlie...it’ssowonderfultofindallofasuddenI’vegotabigbrother.Youhavenoidea.Sitdown—letmemakeyousomethingtoeat.You’vegottotellmeallaboutitandwhatyourplansare.I...Idon’tknowwheretostartaskingquestions.Imustsoundridiculous—likeagirlwhohasjustfoundoutherbrotherisahero,oramoviestar,orsomething."

           Iwasconfused.IhadnotexpectedagreetinglikethisfromNorma.Ithadneveroccurredtomethatalltheseyearsalonewithmymothermightchangeher.Andyetitwasinevitable.