PROGRESS REPORT 15

           July12

           Nemur,Strauss,Burt,andafewoftheothersontheprojectwerewaitingformeinthepsychoffice.TheytriedtomakemefeelwelcomebutIcouldseehowanxiousBurtwastotakeAlgernon,andIturnedhimover.Noonesaidanything,butIknewthatNemurwouldnotsoonforgivemeforgoingoverhisheadandgettingintouchwiththeFoundation.Butithadbeennecessary.BeforeIreturnedtoBeekman,Ihadtobeassuredtheywouldpermitmetobeginanindependentstudyoftheproject.ToomuchtimewouldbewastedifIhadtoaccounttoNemurforeverythingIdid.

           HehadbeeninformedoftheFoundation’sdecision,andmyreceptionwasacoldandformalone.Heheldouthishand,buttherewasnosmileonhisface."Charlie,"hesaid,"we’reallgladyou’rebackandgoingtoworkwithus.JaysoncalledandtoldmetheFoundationwasputtingyoutoworkontheproject.Thisstaffandthelabareatyourdisposal.Thecomputercenterhasassuredusthatyourworkwillhavepriority—andofcourseifIcanhelpinanyway..."

           Hewasdoinghisutmosttobecordial,butIcouldseebyhisfacethathewasskeptical.Afterall,whatexperiencedidIhavewithexperimentalpsychology?"WhatdidIknowaboutthetechniquesthathehadspentsomanyyearsdeveloping?Well,asIsay,heappearedcordial,andwillingtosuspendjudgment.Thereisn’tmuchelsehecandonow.IfIdon’tcomeupwithanexplanationforAlger­non’sbehavior,allofhisworkgoesdownthedrain,butifIsolvetheproblemIbringinthewholecrewwithme.