Цветы для Элджернона

           "Then,whencanIseeyouagain?"

           "Ihavenorighttoletyougetinvolved."

           "ButIaminvolved!"Ishouted,andthenseeingpeopleturntolook,Iloweredmyvoiceuntilittrembledwithanger."I’maperson—aman—andIcan’tlivewithjustbooksandtapesandelectronicmazes.Yousay,seeotherwomen.’HowcanIwhenIdon’tknowanyotherwomen?Somethinginsideisburningmeup,andallIknowisitmakesmethinkofyou.I’minthemiddleofapageandIseeyourfaceonit—notblurredlikethoseinmypast,butclearandalive.ItouchthepageandyourfaceisgoneandIwanttotearthebookapartandthrowitaway."

           "Please,Charlie..."

           "Letmeseeyouagain."

           "Tomorrowatthelab."

           "Youknowthat’snotwhatImean.Awayfromthelab.Awayfromtheuniversity.Alone."

           Icouldtellshewantedtosayyes.Shewassurprisedbymyinsistence.Iwassurprisedatmyself.IonlyknewthatIcouldn’tstoppressingher.AndyettherewasaterrorinmythroatasIbeggedher.Mypalmsweredamp.WasIafraidshe’dsayno,orafraidshe’dsayyes?Ifshehadn’tbrokenthetensionbyansweringme,IthinkIwouldhavefainted.

           "Allright,Charlie.Awayfromthelabandtheuniver­sity,butnotalone.Idon’tthinkweshouldbealonetogether."

           "Anywhereyousay,"Igasped."JustsoIcanbewithyouandnotthinkoftests...statistics...questions...an­swers..."

           Shefrownedforamoment."Allright.TheyhavefreespringconcertsinCentralPark.Nextweekyoucantakemetooneoftheconcerts."