Цветы для Элджернона

           HeunderstandswhatGimpywants,andhefeelscornered.HewantstopleaseGimpy,butthereissomethingaboutthewordslearnandteach,somethingtorememberaboutbeingpunishedseverely,buthedoesn’trecallwhatitis—onlyathinwhitehandupraised,hittinghimtomakehimlearnsomethinghecouldn’tunderstand.

           CharliebacksawaybutGimpygrabshisarm."Hey,kid,takeiteasy.Weain’tgonnahurtyou.Lookathimshakinglikehe’sgonnafallapart.Look,Charlie.Igotanicenewshinygood-luckpieceforyoutoplaywith."HeholdsouthishandandrevealsabrasschainwithashinybrassdiscthatsaysSta-BriteMetalPolish.Heholdsthechainbyoneendandthegleaminggolddiscrotatesslowly,catchingthelightofthefluorescentbulbs.ThependantisabrightnessthatCharlieremembersbuthedoesn’tknowwhyorwhat.

           Hedoesn’treachforit.Heknowsyougetpunishedifyoureachoutforotherpeople’sthings.Ifsomeoneputsitintoyourhandthatisallright.Butotherwiseit’swrong.WhenheseesthatGimpyisofferingittohim,henodsandsmilesagain.

           "Thatheknows,"laughsFrank."Givehimsomethingbrightandshiny."Frank,whohasletGimpytakeovertheexperiment,leansforwardexcitedly."Maybeifhewantsthatpieceofjunkbadenoughandyoutellhimhe’llgetitifhelearnstoshapethedoughintorolls—maybeit’llwork."

           AsthebakerssettothetaskofteachingCharlie,othersfromtheshopgarneraround.