Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Iwatchedthewayheplayedthem,gotthemtocomearoundtohimandsay,No,byJesus,notamanalivecouldliftit—finallyevensuggestthebetthemselves.Iwatchedhowreluctanthelookedtobet.Helettheoddsstackup,suckedthemindeeperanddeepertillhehadfivetooneonasurethingfromeverymanofthem,someofthembettinguptotwentydollars.Heneversaidathingaboutseeingmeliftitalready.

           AllnightIhopedhewouldn’tgothroughwithit.Andduringthemeetingthenextday,whenthenursesaidallthemenwhoparticipatedinthefishingtripwouldhavetotakespecialshowersbecausetheyweresuspectedofvermin,Ikepthopingshe’dfixitsomehow,makeustakeourshowersrightawayorsomething—anythingtokeepmefromhavingtoliftit.

           Butwhenthemeetingwasoverheledmeandtherestoftheguysintothetubroombeforetheblackboyscouldlockitup,andhadmetakethepanelbytheleversandlift.Ididn’twantto,butIcouldn’thelpit.IfeltlikeI’dhelpedhimcheatthemoutoftheirmoney.Theywereallfriendlywithhimastheypaidtheirbets,butIknewhowtheywerefeelinginside,howsomethinghadbeenkickedoutfromunderthem.AssoonasIgotthepanelbackinplace,IranoutofthetubroomwithoutevenlookingatMcMurphyandwentintothelatrine.Iwantedtobebymyself.Icaughtalookatmyselfinthemirror.He’ddonewhathesaid;myarmswerebigagain,bigastheywerebackinhighschool,backatthevillage,andmychestandshoulderswerebroadandhard.