Цветы для Элджернона

           Thenshesaid,"Here,Charlie,haveafruit."Shegavemeanapple,butwhenIbitintoit,itwasfake.

           ThenFrankstartedlaughingandhesaid,"Itoldyahe’deatit.C’nyouimagineanyonedumbenoughtoeatwaxfruit?"

           Joesaid,"Iain’tlaughedsomuchsincewesenthimaroundthecornertoseeifitwasrainingthatnightweditchedhimatHalloran’s."

           ThenIsawapicturethatIrememberedinmymindwhenIwasakidandthechildrenintheblockletmeplaywiththem,hide-and-go-seekandIwasit.AfterIcounteduptotenoverandoveronmyfingersIwenttolookfortheothers.IkeptlookinguntilitgotcoldanddarkandIhadtogohome.

           ButIneverfoundthemandIneverknewwhy.

           WhatFranksaidremindedme.ThatwasthesamethingthathappenedatHalloran’s.AndthatwaswhatJoeandtherestofthemweredoing.Laughingatme.Andthekidsplayinghide-and-go-seekwereplayingtricksonmeandtheywerelaughingatmetoo.

           Thepeopleatthepartywereabunchofblurredfacesalllookingdownandlaughingatme.

           "Lookathim.Hisfaceisred."

           "He’sblushing.Charlie’sblushing."

           "Hey,Ellen,what’dyoudotoCharlie?Ineversaw’himactlikethisbefore."

           "Boy,Ellensuregothimworkedup."

           Ididn’tknowwhattodoorwheretoturn.Herrub­bingupagainstmemademefeelfunny.EveryonewaslaughingatmeandallofasuddenIfeltnaked.Iwantedtohidemyselfsotheywouldn’tsee.Iranoutoftheapart­ment.ItwasalargeapartmenthousewithlotsofhallsandIcouldn’tfindmywaytothestaircase.