Цветы для Элджернона

           Whatdidhedofirst?Howdidheholdhishand?Hisfingers?Whichwaydidherolltheball?...Athousandconfusingideasburstintohismindatthesametimeandhestandstheresmiling.Hewantstodoit,tomakeFrankandGimpyhappyandhavethemlikehim,andtogetthebrightgood-luckpiecethatGimpyhaspromisedhim.Heturnsthesmooth,heavypieceofdougharoundandaroundonthetable,buthecannotbringhimselftostart.Hecannotcutintoitbe­causeheknowshewillfailandheisafraid.

           "Heforgotalready,"saidFrank."Itdon’tstick."

           Hewantsittostick.Hefrownsandtriestoremember:firstyoustarttocutoffapiece.Thenyourollitoutintoaball.Buthowdoesitgettobearollliketheonesinthetray?That’ssomethingelse.Givehimtimeandhe’llremember.Assoonasthefuzzinesspassesawayhe’llremember.Justan­otherfewsecondsandhe’llhaveit.Hewantstoholdontowhathe’slearned—foralittlewhile.Hewantsitsomuch.

           "Okay,Charlie,"sighsGimpy,takingthecutteroutofhishand."That’sallright.Don’tworryaboutit.It’snotyourworkanyway."

           Anotherminuteandhe’llremember.Ifonlytheywouldn’trushhim.Whydoeseverythinghavetobeinsuchahurry?

           "Goahead,Charlie.Gositdownandlookatyourcomicbook.Wegottogetbacktowork."

           Charlienodsandsmiles,andpullsthecomicbookoutofhisbackpocket.Hesmoothsitout,andputsitonhisheadasamake-believehat.FranklaughsandGimpyfi­nallysmiles.

           "Goon,youbigbaby,"snortsGimpy."GositdownthereuntilMr.