Цветы для Элджернона

           Doyou,Charlie?"

           Charlierubshisheadandcringes.Hedoesn’tknowwhathe’sdonetodeservethispunishment,butthereisal­waysthechancethattherewillbemore.

           "Butyouknowbetter,"saysGimpy,clumpingoveronhisorthopedicboot,"sowhatthehellyoualwayspickingonhimfor?"Thetwomensitdownatthelongtable,thetallFrankandtheheavyGimpshapingthedoughfortherollsthathavetobebakedfortheeveningorders.

           Theyworkinsilenceforawhile,andthenFrankstopsandtipshiswhitecapback."Hey,Gimp,thinkCharliecouldlearntobakerolls?"

           Gimpleansanelbowontheworktable."Whydon’twejustleavehimalone?"

           "No,Imeanit,Gimp—seriously.Ibethecouldlearnsomethingsimplelikemakingrolls."

           TheideaseemstoappealtoGimpywhoturnstostareatCharlie."Maybeyougotsomethingthere.Hey,Charlie,comehereaminute."

           Asheusuallydoeswhenpeoplearetalkingabouthim,Charliehasbeenkeepinghisheaddown,staringathisshoelaces.Heknowshowtolaceandtiethem.Hecouldmakerolls.Hecouldlearntopound,roll,twistandshapethedoughintothesmallroundforms.

           Franklooksathimuncertainly."Maybeweshouldn’t,Gimp.Maybeit’swrong.Ifamoroncan’tlearnmaybeweshouldn’tstartanythingwithhim."

           "Youleavethistome,"saysGimpywhohasnowtakenoverFrank’sidea."Ithinkmaybehecanlearn.Nowlisten,Charlie.Youwanttolearnsomething?YouwantmetoteachyouhowtomakerollslikemeandFrankaredoing?

           Charliestaresathim,thesmilemeltingfromhisface.