Цветы для Элджернона

           October7

           Strausstriedtoseemeagainthismorning,butIwouldn’topenthedoor.Iwanttobelefttomyselfnow.

           It’sastrangesensationtopickupabookyoureadandenjoyedjustafewmonthsagoanddiscoveryoudon’tre­memberit.IrecallhowwonderfulIthoughtMiltonwas.WhenIpickedupParadiseLostIcouldonlyrememberitwasaboutAdamandEveandtheTreeofKnowledge,butnowIcouldn’tmakesenseofit.

           IstoodupandclosedmyeyesandsawCharlie—my­self—sixorsevenyearsold,sittingatthedinnertablewithaschoolbook,learningtoread,sayingthewordsoverandoverwithmymothersittingbesidehim,besideme...

           "Tryitagain."

           "SeeJack.SeeJackrun.SeeJacksee.""No!NotSeeJacksee!It’sRunJackrun!"Pointingwithherrough-scrubbedfinger.

           "SeeJack.SeeJackrun.RunJacksee.""No!You’renottrying.Doitagain!"

           Doitagain...doitagain...doitagain..."Leavetheboyalone.You’vegothimterrified.""He’sgottolearn.He’stoolazytoconcentrate."RunJackrun...runJackrun...runJackrun...runJackrun...

           "He’sslowerthantheotherchildren.Givehimtime.""He’snormal.There’snothingwrongwithhim.Justlazy.I’llbeatitintohimuntilhelearns."

           RunJackrun...runJackrun...runJackrun...runJackrun...

           Andthenlookingupfromthetable,itseemstomeIsawmyself,throughCharlie’seyes,holdingParadiseLost,andIrealizedIwasbreakingthebindingwiththepressureofbothhandsasifIwantedtotearthebookinhalf.