Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           Thedaysflowedoninmonotonouscontent.Hewentbackathirdyeartothekindergarten,buthewastoolittlenowtounderstandwhatthebrightshiningstripsofpaperwerefor.Hecriedbecausetheotherboyswerebiggerthanhe,andhewasafraidofthem.Theteachertalkedtohim,butthoughhetriedtounderstandhecouldnotunderstandatall.

           Hewastakenfromthekindergarten.Hisnurse,Nana,inherstarchedginghamdress,becamethecentreofhistinyworld.Onbrightdaystheywalkedinthepark;Nanawouldpointatagreatgraymonsterandsay"elephant,"andBenjaminwouldsayitafterher,andwhenhewasbeingundressedforbedthatnighthewouldsayitoverandoveraloudtoher:"Elyphant,elyphant,elyphant."SometimesNanalethimjumponthebed,whichwasfun,becauseifyousatdownexactlyrightitwouldbounceyouuponyourfeetagain,andifyousaid"Ah"foralongtimewhileyoujumpedyougotaverypleasingbrokenvocaleffect.

           Helovedtotakeabigcanefromthehat-rackandgoaroundhittingchairsandtableswithitandsaying:"Fight,fight,fight."Whentherewerepeopletheretheoldladieswouldcluckathim,whichinterestedhim,andtheyoungladieswouldtrytokisshim,whichhesubmittedtowithmildboredom.Andwhenthelongdaywasdoneatfiveo’clockhewouldgoupstairswithNanaandbefedonoatmealandnicesoftmushyfoodswithaspoon.

           Therewerenotroublesomememoriesinhischildishsleep;notokencametohimofhisbravedaysatcollege,oftheglitteringyearswhenheflusteredtheheartsofmanygirls.Therewereonlythewhite,safewallsofhiscribandNanaandamanwhocametoseehimsometimes,andagreatbigorangeballthatNanapointedatjustbeforehistwilightbedhourandcalled"sun."Whenthesunwenthiseyesweresleepy—therewerenodreams,nodreamstohaunthim.