Algernon Continued: An Extension of Life In the Point of View of Algernon from "Flowers for Algernon"©
An Original Extension by: Anonymous C.S
A cool breeze ruffled through the soft fur bordering his face, leaving him with chills. Today, he thought, is the day I finally meet him. His left hand instinctively reached down into his blazer pocket to check that he had his recorder. He was ready. Art took a deep breath of the fresh spring air and quickened his pace to a brisk walk; loudening the crunching of every footstep on gravel paved trail. In almost no time he could see the clearing in the distance, his destination. The grass border beckoned him closer to the fields where his partner waited. He had finally arived
Art paused. There he was, sitting on the park bench; inconspicuous to the average mouse, simply a common dweller among the crowd, but Art knew he was much, much more. He had heard stories of his greatness, but now he was going to get the facts... He was so caught up in his fantasies that he didn’t notice the stranger’s gaze shift from the psychology book in his lap up to him. Art realized that he had been in awe for far longer than he thought and desperately tried to calm his nerves. After a few seconds of recollecting his poise, Art finally managed to speak. “Pardon me sir,” he fumbled, “Are you Algernon?”
“Flesh and blood. You are Art, I presume?”
He wasn’t going to admit it,but a subtle smile made its way across his face, “Indeed I am”.
“Come,” Algernon gestured to an empty space on the bench. “Sit.”
“It is an honor to finally meet you sir, you don’t know how long i’ve waited for this moment.”
“I imagine it was soon after you read the news article on both Charlie’s and my escape.”
“Then it’s true,” Art let out a chuckle, “you are brighter than you look.”
“Thank you, but this is enough small talk. You told me about an interview of some sort?”
Art’s face lit up briefly. “Oh yes,” he exclaimed as he reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out his primed recorder, “I had wanted to ask you a few questions about your experiences at the lab. Is that alright with you?”
“Absolutely,” He replied, “ask away.”
“Alright...” Art fumbled with the device, checking to make sure that the tape was in correctly. After assuring himself it was, he returned his gaze to Algernon. “I’m ready. When I push down on this red button here, it means I’m recording.”
Algernon simply stared at him.
Art paused. “you understand?” he asked uneasily.
Algernon raised an eyebrow. “Of course I understand, I’m not an idiot. I was just wondering why you felt the need to explain that to me.”
“Oh, uh...” He started to trail off. He shifted uncomfortably in his as his face began to turn a rosy color.
“I’m sorry, I made you uncomfortable, didn’t I? I’ve been a bit irritable lately. Here,” He gently took the recorder from Art’s paws and pushed down on the red button. “no hard feelings?” he asked as he handed it back to him.
“No, no. Just... forget that it ever happened.”
“Ok. Before I rudely interrupted, you said you had some questions for me?”
“Ah yes, questions.” He said, resuming his former attitude. “ What was it like living in the lab? Was it enjoyable?”
“Somewhat. It was a rather drab way to live, but one person made it worth while: Charlie. I remember as though it were yesterday, he would come in, so innocently happy. We would race through mazes that the scientist brought us. He was a rather slow learner at the time, so I tried to slow my pace to let him keep up; although the scientists didn’t like that much. After a few weeks, Charlie’s cognitive abilities improved along with his motor skills.” Algernon began a light, reminiscent laugh, “Soon I had to run to try and keep up with him!”
“You seem quite fond of this ‘Charlie’, who was he exactly?”
“Who he was or who he is?”
Art (was confused), “ Are those not the same question?”
“Oh no, they are quite different. Charlie was a lighthearted wanderer, a perfect friend. He loved everyone, and everything; including me. But after the operation-” Algernon stopped and glanced down at his paws, his eyebrows drew together in a look of frustration. He exhaled sharply. “ After the operation, he wasn’t the same. He had changed so drastically from his former self, it was as if he was a completely different person. His intelligence grew exponentially as mine had,. As Charlie’s mental growth progressed, he began to uncover the horrors of the real world. He began to lose the people he once thought were friends. The love life he had grew and withered away right before my eyes. It was terrible, watching him go through all of this, knowing that I couldn’t help; but that doesn't mean that I didn’t try. At some points in time it was as if we could communicate without words, as if there was a mutual understanding between us. We had both gone through the same experiences, which I think was a key factor in that.”
“I see. That seems like a wonderful connection between you two.” Art smiled. “Now, earlier in that para- WOAH!” he exclaimed as a sudden gust of wind nearly knocked him off balance. “Where did that come from?”
“It seems like there are a few cumulus clouds growing to the west. That’s odd, we were supposed to have clear skies for the next few days or so.”
“That is very strange. Here,” Art shifted his seating so he could block the wind from the microphone, “Now we will be able to hear you better. No more feedback from the wind.”
“Thanks, now where were we?”
“Let’s see...” he looked upwards, silently mouthing bits and pieces of conversation. “Ah yes, I remember now. Earlier in that paragraph, you talked about how both you and Charlie had gone through the same experiences. Do you think that both you and Charlie are intellectual equals?”
Algernon studied Art for a few moments, “What do you mean?”
“ I mean, who is smarter? Who has a higher intelligence ranking?” A gust of wind ruffled through both mice’s fur.
“There is no such thing as an intelligence ranking, Art.”
“There’s not?”
“No”
A look of puzzlement flooded Art’s face. “But what about IQ tests? Aren’t those supposed to be able to measure intelligence?”
“Intelligence isn’t just a number on a scorecard. You could be brilliant in a field of your choice, then be tested on one completely foreign to you and be labeled as an idiot for the rest of your life.”
A stronger wind began pushing on Art’s back. “Those clouds are getting closer. I think we should leave s-”
“Stay.”Algernon said, in a frightfully deeper voice. A new, serious tone had taken over him. More gusts of wind.
“Fine.” Art replied, trying to look as nonchalant as he could in the situation. “But I can’t guarantee that the audio will be top quality with these winds.”
“As long as I get my point across.”
Art took a deep breath, and decided he would ask the most important question of the interview. “Algernon,”
“Yes?”
“How smart do you believe you are?”
A sly smile crept across his face. “I knew you were going to ask that sooner or later.”
Ever so softly a drop of rain fell onto Art’s hand. He then heard a roll of thunder in the distance.“You...Did?”
“Of course. Everyone has to know how smart the great and powerful Algernon is! Even after I get through telling you intelligence cannot be measured? It’s like you’re not even listening!”
“Why would I not? I’m interviewing you after all, don’t you think that’s my job?”
“But you aren’t listening. You are only hearing. Listening involves activating your brain and thinking for once.”
“I am too listening! I can think just as well as you can.”
“Oh no you can’t. You haven’t seen the world until you’ve looked at it through the eyes of a genius. Every door is open, you can learn anything, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world! But it doesn't last, oh not for very long. Intelligence is both a blessing and a curse, once you’ve tasted the sweet flavor of independence, accomplishment and complete understanding, you will never, ever, want to go back. But you do, all in time. Doors of opportunity close, one by one, as you fall back into nothingness. You can’t be saved. You can’t be helped. You can only fall. So take your stupid tapes, they can’t help me now. Just take em’ and LEAVE!”
“Ouf!-” Art was knocked back into the mud, his tape recorder covered with filth. He hurried to wipe it off, but it was too late; the tape was ruined. Algernon stood towering over him, waiting. Lightning cracked in the distance. Art stood up slowly, brushed the mud from his clothes and looked him straight in the eyes. “Algernon, I thought that mice that were smart would think through their actions. Apparently I was wrong.” And with that, he walked away.
Art paused. There he was, sitting on the park bench; inconspicuous to the average mouse, simply a common dweller among the crowd, but Art knew he was much, much more. He had heard stories of his greatness, but now he was going to get the facts... He was so caught up in his fantasies that he didn’t notice the stranger’s gaze shift from the psychology book in his lap up to him. Art realized that he had been in awe for far longer than he thought and desperately tried to calm his nerves. After a few seconds of recollecting his poise, Art finally managed to speak. “Pardon me sir,” he fumbled, “Are you Algernon?”
“Flesh and blood. You are Art, I presume?”
He wasn’t going to admit it,but a subtle smile made its way across his face, “Indeed I am”.
“Come,” Algernon gestured to an empty space on the bench. “Sit.”
“It is an honor to finally meet you sir, you don’t know how long i’ve waited for this moment.”
“I imagine it was soon after you read the news article on both Charlie’s and my escape.”
“Then it’s true,” Art let out a chuckle, “you are brighter than you look.”
“Thank you, but this is enough small talk. You told me about an interview of some sort?”
Art’s face lit up briefly. “Oh yes,” he exclaimed as he reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out his primed recorder, “I had wanted to ask you a few questions about your experiences at the lab. Is that alright with you?”
“Absolutely,” He replied, “ask away.”
“Alright...” Art fumbled with the device, checking to make sure that the tape was in correctly. After assuring himself it was, he returned his gaze to Algernon. “I’m ready. When I push down on this red button here, it means I’m recording.”
Algernon simply stared at him.
Art paused. “you understand?” he asked uneasily.
Algernon raised an eyebrow. “Of course I understand, I’m not an idiot. I was just wondering why you felt the need to explain that to me.”
“Oh, uh...” He started to trail off. He shifted uncomfortably in his as his face began to turn a rosy color.
“I’m sorry, I made you uncomfortable, didn’t I? I’ve been a bit irritable lately. Here,” He gently took the recorder from Art’s paws and pushed down on the red button. “no hard feelings?” he asked as he handed it back to him.
“No, no. Just... forget that it ever happened.”
“Ok. Before I rudely interrupted, you said you had some questions for me?”
“Ah yes, questions.” He said, resuming his former attitude. “ What was it like living in the lab? Was it enjoyable?”
“Somewhat. It was a rather drab way to live, but one person made it worth while: Charlie. I remember as though it were yesterday, he would come in, so innocently happy. We would race through mazes that the scientist brought us. He was a rather slow learner at the time, so I tried to slow my pace to let him keep up; although the scientists didn’t like that much. After a few weeks, Charlie’s cognitive abilities improved along with his motor skills.” Algernon began a light, reminiscent laugh, “Soon I had to run to try and keep up with him!”
“You seem quite fond of this ‘Charlie’, who was he exactly?”
“Who he was or who he is?”
Art (was confused), “ Are those not the same question?”
“Oh no, they are quite different. Charlie was a lighthearted wanderer, a perfect friend. He loved everyone, and everything; including me. But after the operation-” Algernon stopped and glanced down at his paws, his eyebrows drew together in a look of frustration. He exhaled sharply. “ After the operation, he wasn’t the same. He had changed so drastically from his former self, it was as if he was a completely different person. His intelligence grew exponentially as mine had,. As Charlie’s mental growth progressed, he began to uncover the horrors of the real world. He began to lose the people he once thought were friends. The love life he had grew and withered away right before my eyes. It was terrible, watching him go through all of this, knowing that I couldn’t help; but that doesn't mean that I didn’t try. At some points in time it was as if we could communicate without words, as if there was a mutual understanding between us. We had both gone through the same experiences, which I think was a key factor in that.”
“I see. That seems like a wonderful connection between you two.” Art smiled. “Now, earlier in that para- WOAH!” he exclaimed as a sudden gust of wind nearly knocked him off balance. “Where did that come from?”
“It seems like there are a few cumulus clouds growing to the west. That’s odd, we were supposed to have clear skies for the next few days or so.”
“That is very strange. Here,” Art shifted his seating so he could block the wind from the microphone, “Now we will be able to hear you better. No more feedback from the wind.”
“Thanks, now where were we?”
“Let’s see...” he looked upwards, silently mouthing bits and pieces of conversation. “Ah yes, I remember now. Earlier in that paragraph, you talked about how both you and Charlie had gone through the same experiences. Do you think that both you and Charlie are intellectual equals?”
Algernon studied Art for a few moments, “What do you mean?”
“ I mean, who is smarter? Who has a higher intelligence ranking?” A gust of wind ruffled through both mice’s fur.
“There is no such thing as an intelligence ranking, Art.”
“There’s not?”
“No”
A look of puzzlement flooded Art’s face. “But what about IQ tests? Aren’t those supposed to be able to measure intelligence?”
“Intelligence isn’t just a number on a scorecard. You could be brilliant in a field of your choice, then be tested on one completely foreign to you and be labeled as an idiot for the rest of your life.”
A stronger wind began pushing on Art’s back. “Those clouds are getting closer. I think we should leave s-”
“Stay.”Algernon said, in a frightfully deeper voice. A new, serious tone had taken over him. More gusts of wind.
“Fine.” Art replied, trying to look as nonchalant as he could in the situation. “But I can’t guarantee that the audio will be top quality with these winds.”
“As long as I get my point across.”
Art took a deep breath, and decided he would ask the most important question of the interview. “Algernon,”
“Yes?”
“How smart do you believe you are?”
A sly smile crept across his face. “I knew you were going to ask that sooner or later.”
Ever so softly a drop of rain fell onto Art’s hand. He then heard a roll of thunder in the distance.“You...Did?”
“Of course. Everyone has to know how smart the great and powerful Algernon is! Even after I get through telling you intelligence cannot be measured? It’s like you’re not even listening!”
“Why would I not? I’m interviewing you after all, don’t you think that’s my job?”
“But you aren’t listening. You are only hearing. Listening involves activating your brain and thinking for once.”
“I am too listening! I can think just as well as you can.”
“Oh no you can’t. You haven’t seen the world until you’ve looked at it through the eyes of a genius. Every door is open, you can learn anything, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world! But it doesn't last, oh not for very long. Intelligence is both a blessing and a curse, once you’ve tasted the sweet flavor of independence, accomplishment and complete understanding, you will never, ever, want to go back. But you do, all in time. Doors of opportunity close, one by one, as you fall back into nothingness. You can’t be saved. You can’t be helped. You can only fall. So take your stupid tapes, they can’t help me now. Just take em’ and LEAVE!”
“Ouf!-” Art was knocked back into the mud, his tape recorder covered with filth. He hurried to wipe it off, but it was too late; the tape was ruined. Algernon stood towering over him, waiting. Lightning cracked in the distance. Art stood up slowly, brushed the mud from his clothes and looked him straight in the eyes. “Algernon, I thought that mice that were smart would think through their actions. Apparently I was wrong.” And with that, he walked away.