Цветы для Элджернона

           AtfirstIfigureditwasonlyright,becausethey’restillpay­ingme,andit’simportantIhavetherecordcomplete,butwhenIgotdowntoBeekmanandwentthroughitallwithBurt,Iknewitwouldbetoomuchforme.

           Firstitwasthepaperandpencilmaze.IrememberedhowitwasbeforewhenIlearnedtodoitquickly,andwhenIracedagainstAlgernon.Icouldtellitwastakingmealotlongertosolvethemazenow.Burthadhishandouttotakethepaper,butItoreitupinsteadandthrewthepiecesintothewastebasket.

           "Nomore.I’mthroughrunningthemaze.I’minablindalleynow,andthat’sallthereistoit."

           HewasafraidI’drunout,sohecalmedmedown."That’sallright,Charlie.Justtakeiteasy."

           "Whatdoyoumean’takeiteasy’?Youdon’tknowwhatit’slike."

           "No,butIcanimagine.Weallfeelprettysickaboutit."

           "Keepyoursympathy.Justleavemealone."

           Hewasembarrassed,andthenIrealizeditwasn’thisfault,andIwasbeinglousytowardhim."SorryIblewup,"Isaid."How’severythinggoing?Gotyourthesisfinishedyet?"

           Henodded."Havingitretypednow.I’llgetmyPh.D.inFebruary."

           "Goodboy."IslappedhimontheshouldertoshowhimIwasn’tangrywithhim."Keepplugging.Nothinglikeaneducation.Look,forgetwhatIsaidbefore.I’lldoanythingelseyouwant.Justnomoremazes—that’sall."

           "Well,NemurwantsaRorschachcheck"

           "Toseewhat’shappeningdowndeep?Whatdoesheexpecttofind?"

           Imusthavelookedupset,becausehestartedtobackoff."Wedon’thaveto.