Цветы для Элджернона

           Whydoesamemorylikethatfromchildhoodremainwithmesostrongly,andwhydoesitfrightenmenow?IsitbecauseofmyfeelingsforAlice?

           Thinkingaboutitnow,IcanunderstandwhyIwastaughttokeepawayfromwomen.ItwaswrongformetoexpressmyfeelingstoAlice.Ihavenorighttothinkofawomanthatway—notyet.

           ButevenasIwritethesewords,somethinginsideshoutsthatthereismore.I’maperson.IwassomebodybeforeIwentunderthesurgeon’sknife.AndIhavetolovesomeone.

           May8

           EvennowthatIhavelearnedwhathasbeengoingonbehindMr.Donner’sback,Ifindithardtobelieve.Ifirstnoticedsomethingwaswrongduringtherushhourtwodaysago.Gimpywasbehindthecounterwrappingabirthdaycakeforoneofourregularcus­tomers—acakethatsellsfor$3.95.ButwhenGimpyrangupthesaletheregistershowedonly$2.95.Istartedtotellhimhehadmadeamistake,butinthemirrorbehindthecounterIsawawinkandsmilethatpassedfromthecus­tomertoGimpyandtheansweringsmileonGimpy’sface.Andwhenthemantookhischange,IsawtheflashofalargesilvercoinleftbehindinGimpy’shand,beforehisfingersclosedonit,andthequickmovementwithwhichheslippedthehalf-dollarintohispocket.

           "Charlie,"saidawomanbehindme,"arethereanymoreofthosecream-filledeclairs?"

           "I’llgobackandfindout."

           IwasgladoftheinterruptionbecauseitgavemetimetothinkaboutwhatIhadseen.Certainly,Gimpyhadnotmadeamistake.