Цветы для Элджернона
PROGRESS REPORT 11
Weorderedourfoodatthecounterandcarriedittoourtableandatewithouttalking.Thesilencemademenervous.Iknewwhatshemeantaboutherfear,soIjokedaboutit.
"WhyshouldIgethurt?Icouldn’tbeanyworseoffthanIwasbefore.EvenAlgernonisstillsmart,isn’the?Aslongashe’supthereI’mingoodshape."Shetoyedwithherknifemakingcirculardepressionsinapatofbutterandthemovementhypnotizedme."Andbesides,"Itoldher,"Ioverheardsomething—ProfessorNemurandDr.Strausswerearguing,andNemursaidhe’spositivethatnothingcangowrong."
"Ihopeso,"shesaid."YouhavenoideahowafraidI’vebeenthatsomethingmightgowrong.Ifeelpartlyresponsible."Shesawmestaringattheknifeandsheputitdowncarefullybesideherplate.
"Ineverwouldhavedoneitbutforyou,"Isaid.
Shelaughedanditmademetremble.That’swhenIsawthathereyesweresoftbrown.Shelookeddownatthetableclothquicklyandblushed.
"Thankyou,Charlie,"shesaid,andtookmyhand.
Itwasthefirsttimeanyonehadeverdonethat,anditmademebolder.Ileanedforward,holdingontoherhand,andthewordscameout."Ilikeyouverymuch."AfterIsaidit,Iwasafraidshe’dlaugh,butshenoddedandsmiled.
"Ilikeyoutoo,Charlie."
"Butit’smorethanliking.WhatImeanis...ohhell!Idon’tknowwhatImean."IknewIwasblushingandIdidn’tknowwheretolookorwhattodowithmyhands.Idroppedafork,andwhenItriedtoretrieveit,Iknockedoveraglassofwateranditspilledonherdress.
