Цветы для Элджернона
PROGRESS REPORT 11
ButthemoreIthoughtaboutitthelesssimpleitbecame.Ihadtohavesomeoneelsetobreakthetie,andtheonlyoneIcoulddrinkofwasAlice.Finally,attenthirtyIcouldn’tholdoutanylonger.Idialedthreetimes,brokeoffinthemiddleeachtime,butonthefourthtry,Imanagedtoholdonuntilhervoice.
Atfirstshedidn’tthinksheshouldseeme,butIbeggedhertomeetmeatthecafeteriawherewehaddinnertogether."Irespectyou—you’vealwaysgivenmegoodadvice."Andwhenshestillwavered,Iinsisted."Youhavetohelpme.You’repartlyresponsible.Yousaidsoyourself.IfnotforyouIwouldneverhavegoneintothisinthefirstplace.Youjustcan’tshrugmeoffnow."
Shemusthavesensedtheurgencybecausesheagreedtomeetme.Ihungupandstaredatthephone.Whywasitsoimportantformetoknowwhatshethought,howshefelt?FormorethanayearattheAdultCentertheonlythingthatmatteredwaspleasingher.WasthatwhyIhadagreedtotheoperationinthefirstplace?
Ipacedupandbackinfrontofthecafeteriauntilthepolicemanbegantoeyemesuspiciously.ThenIwentinandboughtcoffee.Fortunately,thetablewehadusedlasttimewasempty.Shewouldthinkoflookingformebackthere.
Shesawmeandwavedtome,butstoppedatthecounterforcoffeebeforeshecameovertothetable.ShesmiledandIknewitwasbecauseIhadchosenthesametable.Afoolish,romanticgesture.
"Iknowit’slate,"Iapologized,"butIswearIwasgoingoutofmymind.Ihadtotalktoyou."
