Цветы для Элджернона

           SowhatrightdidIhavetoitnow?Mymaskwouldsoonberippedaway.

           "Don’tcry,Norma.Everythingwillworkoutallright."Iheardmyselfspeakinginreassuringplatitudes."I’lltrytotakecareofyouboth.Ihavealittlemoneysaved,andwithwhattheFoundationhasbeenpayingme,I’llbeabletosendyousomemoneyregularly—forawhileanyway."

           "Butyou’renotgoingaway!You’vegottostaywithusnow—"

           "I’vegottodosometraveling,someresearch,makeafewspeeches,butI’lltrytocomebacktovisityou.Takecareofher.She’sbeenthroughalot.I’llhelpyouforaslongasIcan."

           "Charlie!No,don’tgo!"Sheclungtome."I’mfrightened!"

           TheroleIhadalwayswantedtoplay—thebigbrother.

           Atthatmoment,IsensedthatRose,whohadbeensit­tinginthecornerquietly,wasstaringatus.Somethinginherfacehadchanged.Hereyeswerewide,andsheleanedforwardontheedgeofherseat.AllIcouldthinkofwasahawkreadytoswoopdown.

           IpushedNormaawayfromme,butbeforeIcouldsayanything,Rosewasonherfeet.Shehadtakenthekitchenknifefromthetableandwaspointingatme.

           "Whatareyoudoingtoher?Getawayfromher!ItoldyouwhatI’ddotoyouifIevercaughtyoutouchingyoursisteragain!Dirtymind!Youdon’tbelongwithnormalpeople!"

           "Webothjumpedback,andforsomeinsanereason,Ifeltguilty,asifIhadbeencaughtdoingsomethingwrong,andIknewNormafeltthesameway.Itwasasifmymother’saccusationhadmadeittrue,thatweweredoingsomethingobscene.