Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           Bythetimehewastwelveyearsoldhisparentshadgrownusedtohim.Indeed,sostrongistheforceofcustomthattheynolongerfeltthathewasdifferentfromanyotherchild—exceptwhensomecuriousanomalyremindedthemofthefact.Butonedayafewweeksafterhistwelfthbirthday,whilelookinginthemirror,Benjaminmade,orthoughthemade,anastonishingdiscovery.Didhiseyesdeceivehim,orhadhishairturnedinthedozenyearsofhislifefromwhitetoiron-grayunderitsconcealingdye?Wasthenetworkofwrinklesonhisfacebecominglesspronounced?Washisskinhealthierandfirmer,withevenatouchofruddywintercolour?Hecouldnottell.Heknewthathenolongerstooped,andthathisphysicalconditionhadimprovedsincetheearlydaysofhislife.

           "Canitbe——?"hethoughttohimself,or,rather,scarcelydaredtothink.

           Hewenttohisfather."Iamgrown,"heannounceddeterminedly."Iwanttoputonlongtrousers."

           Hisfatherhesitated."Well,"hesaidfinally,"Idon’tknow.Fourteenistheageforputtingonlongtrousers—andyouareonlytwelve."

           "Butyou’llhavetoadmit,"protestedBenjamin,"thatI’mbigformyage."

           Hisfatherlookedathimwithillusoryspeculation."Oh,I’mnotsosureofthat,"hesaid."IwasasbigasyouwhenIwastwelve."

           Thiswasnottrue-itwasallpartofRogerButton’ssilentagreementwithhimselftobelieveinhisson’snormality.