Цветы для Элджернона
PROGRESS REPORT 9
TodaywasthefirstdayIeverstayedhomefromworkonpurpose.
LastnightJoeCarpandFrankReillyinvitedmetoaparty.TherewerelotsofgirlsandGimpywasthereandErnietoo.IrememberedhowsickIgotlasttimeIdranktoomuch,soItoldJoeIdidn’twanttodrinkanything.Hegavemeaplaincokeinstead.Ittastedfunny,butIthoughtitwasjustabadtasteinmymouth.
Wehadalotoffunforawhile.
"DancewithEllen,"Joesaid."She’llteachyouthesteps."Thenhewinkedatherlikehehadsomethinginhiseye.
Shesaid,"Whydon’tyouleavehimalone?"
Heslappedmeontheback"ThisisCharlieGordon,mybuddy,mypal.He’snoordinaryguy—he’sbeenpromotedtoworkingonthedough-mixingmachine.AllIdidwasaskyoutodancewithhimandgivehimagoodtime.What’swrongwiththat?"
Hepushedmeupcloseagainsther.Soshedancedwithme.IfellthreetimesandIcouldn’tunderstandwhybecausenooneelsewasdancingbesidesEllenandme.AndallthetimeIwastrippingbecausesomebody’sfootwasalwaysstickingout.
Theywereallaroundinacirclewatchingandlaughingatthewayweweredoingthesteps.TheylaughedhardereverytimeIfell,andIwaslaughingtoobecauseitwassofunny.ButthelasttimeithappenedIdidn’tlaugh.IpickedmyselfupandJoepushedmedownagain.
ThenIsawthelookonJoe’sfaceanditgavemeafunnyfeelinginmystomach.
"He’sascream,"oneofthegirlssaid.Everybodywaslaughing.
"Oh,youwereright,Frank,"chokedEllen."He’saonemansideshow."
