Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           ThereafterBenjamincontrivedtobreaksomethingeveryday,buthedidthesethingsonlybecausetheywereexpectedofhim,andbecausehewasbynatureobliging.

           Whenhisgrandfather’sinitialantagonismworeoff,Benjaminandthatgentlemantookenormouspleasureinoneanother’scompany.Theywouldsitforhours,thesetwo,sofarapartinageandexperience,and,likeoldcronies,discusswithtirelessmonotonythesloweventsoftheday.Benjaminfeltmoreateaseinhisgrandfather’spresencethaninhisparents’—theyseemedalwayssomewhatinaweofhimand,despitethedictatorialauthoritytheyexercisedoverhim,frequentlyaddressedhimas"Mr."

           Hewasaspuzzledasanyoneelseattheapparentlyadvancedageofhismindandbodyatbirth.Hereaduponitinthemedicaljournal,butfoundthatnosuchcasehadbeenpreviouslyrecorded.Athisfather’surginghemadeanhonestattempttoplaywithotherboys,andfrequentlyhejoinedinthemildergames—footballshookhimuptoomuch,andhefearedthatincaseofafracturehisancientboneswouldrefusetoknit.

           Whenhewasfivehewassenttokindergarten,whereheinitiatedintotheartofpastinggreenpaperonorangepaper,ofweavingcolouredmapsandmanufacturingeternalcardboardnecklaces.Hewasinclinedtodrowseofftosleepinthemiddleofthesetasks,ahabitwhichbothirritatedandfrightenedhisyoungteacher.Tohisreliefshecomplainedtohisparents,andhewasremovedfromtheschool.TheRogerButtonstoldtheirfriendsthattheyfelthewastooyoung.