Flowers for Algernon: Pages 165-200

Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss are determined to find Charlie and Algernon or this will be the end of their careers. Charlie finds an apartment in New York. He moves in and starts his new life. He goes to the library every day to expand his knowledge and decides to build mazes for Algernon to keep learning. One day Charlie gets locked out of his apartment. He decides to go next door hoping he can use the fire escape to enter his locked room. When he knocks on his neighbor’s door, a voice invites him to enter. When Charlie opens the door he sees a women standing in her underwear painting. She introduces herself as Fay and asks if he would like a drink. Charlie feels very uncomfortable and just wants to get into his locked room. Fay continues to try to create conversation. Eventually Charlie goes up to his apartment after making what some would call his “first friend.” 

Charlie decides to go meet his father, Matt. When Charlie goes to the hair salon Matt owns he doesn't know what he is in for. When he arrives Matt quickly says, “No waiting, your next." This catches Charlie off guard but he decides he will get his hair cut. After Charlie gets his hair cut he decides to ask if Matt recognizes him. Matt thinks it some kind of joke and Charlie decides not to tell him the truth. Charlie returns to his room wondering why his father would want to talk to him.

One night Fay came to Charlie's room. She comes in and acts very strangely. She starts saying stuff about liking Charlie and that he would be the one. They end up both getting drunk then falling asleep. The next day when Charlie went out to eat he noticed something different about the boy washing the dishes. When the boy dropped a plate and his boss started yelling at him a lot of the people eating began to laugh. Then Charlie realized this boy was retarded. Charles related to this boy and it really upset him. Charlie yelled at everyone laughing then abruptly left the restaurant.

I think it interesting to see that Charlie is so dedicated to keep learning but he is also determined to help Algernon keep learning. At first Charlie hated Algernon but now they have grown a bond in-between each other. I wonder if Fay and Charlie will become friends. I can’t tell if Charlie likes her or not. Will Charlie get enough courage to go talk to Matt? I can’t wait to answer these questions and keep reading.