Цветы для Элджернона

           Whatyousayaboutthepartshavingtobelongtogether—thatwasaprettygoodinsight."

           "Oh,comeonnow.Idon’tfeelasifI’maccomplish­inganything.Idon’tunderstandaboutmyselformypast.Idon’tevenknowwheremyparentsare,orwhattheylooklike.DoyouknowthatwhenIseetheminaflashofmem­oryorinadreamthefacesareablur?Iwanttoseetheirexpressions.Ican’tunderstandwhat’sgoingonunlessIcanseetheirfaces—"

           "Charlie,calmdown."Peoplewereturningtostare.Sheslippedherarmthroughmineandpulledmeclosetorestrainme."Bepatient.Don’tforgetyou’reaccomplishinginweekswhattakesothersalifetime.You’reagiantspongesoakinginknowledge.Soonyou’llbegintoconnectthingsup,andyou’llseehowallthedifferentworldsoflearningarerelated.Allthelevels,Charlie,likestepsonagiantlad­der.Andyou’llclimbhigherandhighertoseemoreandmoreoftheworldaroundyou."

           AsweenteredthecafeteriaonForty-fifthStreetandpickedupourtrays,shespokeanimatedly."Ordinarypeople,"shesaid,"canseeonlyalittlebit.Theycan’tchangemuchorgoanyhigherthantheyare,butyou’reagenius.You’llkeepgoingupandup,andseemoreandmore.Andeachstepwillrevealworldsyouneverevenknewexisted."

           Peopleonthelinewhoheardherturnedtostareatme,andonlywhenInudgedhertostopdidshelowerhervoice."IjusthopetoGod,"shewhispered,"thatyoudon’tgethurt."

           ForalittlewhileafterthatIdidn’tknowwhattosay.