Цветы для Элджернона

           Drivinghimasifhewereananimalthatcouldlearntodotricks.Whydon’tyouleavehimalone?"

           "BecauseIwanthimtobelikeeveryoneelse."

           Astheyargue,thefeelingthatgripsCharlie’sinsidesbecomesgreater.Hisbowelsfeelasiftheywillburstandheknowsheshouldgotothebathroomasshehastoldhimsooften.Buthecan’twalk.Hefeelslikesittingdownrightthereinthekitchen,butitiswrongandshewillslaphim.

           Hewantshisspinner.Ifhehashisspinnerandhewatchesitgoingroundandround,hewillbeabletocon­trolhimselfandnotmakeinhispants.Butthespinnerisallapartwithsomeoftheringsunderthetableandsomeunderthesink,andthecordisnearthestove.

           ItisverystrangethatalthoughIcanrecallthevoicesclearlytheirfacesarestillblurred,andIcanseeonlygen­eraloutlines.Dadmassiveandslumped.Momthinandquick.Hearingthemnow,arguingwitheachotheracrosstheyears,Ihavetheimpulsetoshoutatthem:"Lookathim.There,downthere!LookatCharlie.Hehastogotothetoilet!"

           Charliestandsclutchingandpullingathisredcheck­eredshirtastheyargueoverhim.Thewordsareangrysparksbetweenthem—anangerandaguilthecan’tidentify.

           "NextSeptemberhe’sgoingtogobacktoES.13anddotheterm’sworkoveragain."

           "Whycan’tyouletyourselfseethetruth?Theteachersayshe’snotcapableofdoingtheworkinaregularclass."

           "Thatbitchateacher?Oh,I’vegotbetternamesforher.