Цветы для Элджернона

           Andyet,isitmyplacetoinformonhim?ThethingthatbothersmemostisthatwhenhesentmeondeliveriesheusedmetohelphimstealfromDonner.Notknowingaboutit,Iwasoutsideit—nottoblame.ButnowthatIknow,bymysi­lenceIamasguiltyasheis.

           Yet,Gimpyisaco-worker.Threechildren.WhatwillhedoifDonnerfireshim?Hemightnotbeabletogetan­otherjob—especiallywithhisclubfoot.

           Isthatmyworry?

           "What’sright?Ironicthatallmyintelligencedoesn’thelpmesolveaproblemlikethis.

           May10

           IaskedProfessorNemuraboutit,andheinsiststhatI’maninnocentbystanderandthere’snoreasonformetobecomeinvolvedinwhatwouldbeanunpleasantsituation.ThefactthatI’vebeenusedasago-betweendoesn’tseemtobotherhimatall.IfIdidn’tunderstandwhatwashappeningatthetime,hesays,thenitdoesn’tmatter.I’mnomoretoblamethantheknifeistoblameinastabbing,orthecarinacollision.

           "ButI’mnotaninanimateobject,"Iargued.I’maperson."

           Helookedconfusedforamomentandthenlaughed."Ofcourse,Charlie.ButIwasn’treferringtonow.Imeantbeforetheoperation."

           Smug,pompous—Ifeltlikehittinghimtoo."Iwasapersonbeforetheoperation.Incaseyouforgot—"

           "Yes,ofcourse,Charlie.Don’tmisunderstand.Butitwasdifferent..."Andthenherememberedthathehadtochecksomechartsinthelab.

           Dr.Straussdoesn’ttalkmuchduringourpsychother­apysessions,buttodaywhenIbroughtitup,hesaidthatIwasmorallyobligatedtotellMr.Donner.