Цветы для Элджернона

           Shewasnolongerthespoiledbratofmymemories.Shehadgrownup,hadbecomewarmandsym­patheticandaffectionate.

           Wetalked.Ironictosittherewithmysister,thetwoofustalkingaboutmymother—rightthereintheroomwithus—asifshewasn’tthere.WheneverNormawouldrefertotheirlifetogether,I’dlooktoseeifRosewaslistening,butshewasdeepinherownworld,asifshedidn’tunder­standourlanguage,asifnoneofitconcernedheranymore.Shedriftedaroundthekitchenlikeaghost,pickingthingsup,puttingthingsaway,withoutevergettingintheway.Itwasfrightening.

           IwatchedNormafeedherdog."Soyoufinallygothim.Nappie—shortforNapoleon,isn’tit?"

           Shestraightenedupandfrowned."Howdidyouknow?"

           Iexplainedaboutmymemory:thetimeshehadbroughthomehertestpaperhopingtogetthedog,andhowMatthadforbiddenit.AsItoldit,thefrownbecamedeeper.

           "Idon’trememberanyofit.Oh,Charlie,wasIsomeantoyou?"

           "There’sonememoryI’mcuriousabout.I’mnotreallysureifit’samemory,oradream,orifIjustmadeitallup.Itwasthelasttimeweplayedtogetherasfriends.Wewereinthebasement,andwewereplayingagamewiththelampshadesonourheads,pretendingwewereChinesecoolies—jumpingupanddownonanoldmat­tress.Youweresevenoreight,Ithink,andIwasaboutthirteen.And,asIrecall,youbouncedoffthemattressandhityourheadagainstthewall.