Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

“The more intelligent you become the more problems you’ll have, Charlie. Your intellectual growth is going to outstrip your emotional growth.

How can I make him understand that he did not create me? He makes the same mistake as the others when they look at a feeble-minded person and laugh because they don’t understand there are human feelings involved. He doesn’t realize that I was a person before I came here. I am learning to control my resentment, not to be so impatient, to wait for things. I guess I’m growing up. Each day I learn more and more about myself, and the memories that began as ripples now wash over me in high-breaking waves. . . .

Algernon was perched on top of one of the washbasins, glaring at his reflection in the mirror. “Come on,” I said. “We’ll get out of here together.”

I see now that when Norma flowered in our garden I became a weed, allowed to exist only where I would not be seen, in corners and dark places.

intelligence and education that hasn’t been tempered by human affection isn’t worth a damn.”

The only bad thing about having Alice here with me is that now I feel I should fight this thing. I want to stop time, freeze myself at this level and never let go of her.

P.S. please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard.