Цветы для Элджернона

           Hehesitates,butthenhepicksuptheknifeandslicesoffapieceofdoughandsetsitdowninthecenterofthetable.Slowly,keepinghisel­bowsoutexactlyasGimpydoes,herollsitintoaball.

           HelooksfromhisownhandstoGimpy’s,andheiscarefultokeephisfingersexactlythesameway,thumbsto­getherwiththerestofhisfingers—slightlycupped.Hehastodoitright,thewayGimpywantshimtodoit.Thereareechoesinsidehimthatsay,doitrightandtheywilllikeyou.AndhewantsGimpyandFranktolikehim.

           WhenGimpyhasfinishedworkinghisdoughintoaball,hestandsback,andsodoesCharlie."Hey,that’sgreat.Look,Frank,hemadeitintoaball."

           Franknodsandsmiles.Charliesighsandhiswholeframetremblesasthetensionbuilds.Heisunaccustomedtothisraremomentofsuccess.

           "Allrightnow,"saysGimpy."Nowwemakearoll."Awkwardly,butcarefully,CharliefollowsGimpy’severymove.Occasionally,atwitchofhishandorarmmarswhatheisdoing,butinalittlewhileheisabletotwistoffasec­tionofthedoughandfashionitintoaroll.Workingbe­sideGimpyhemakessixrolls,andsprinklingthemwithflourhesetsthemcarefullyalongsideGimpy’sinthelargeflour-coveredtray.

           "Allright,Charlie."Gimpysfaceisserious."Now,let’sseeyoudoitbyyourself.Rememberallthethingsyoudidfromthebeginning.Now,goahead."

           CharliestaresatthehugeslabofdoughandattheknifethatGimpyhaspushedintohishand.Andonceagainpaniccomesoverhim.