Flowers for Algernon: Pages 240-278

Charlie continues to try and find the reason for Algernon's strange behavior. One night Charlie goes to a cocktail party at the Nemur's house. He ends up very drunk and starts yelling at Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss that they never treated him well. Then Charlie goes to the bathroom and sees "Charlie" in the mirror. Charlie begins yell at him and ask why he is there. After that Charlie concludes that was just drunk and it was a reflection of him in the mirror. 

One morning Charlie finally figures what is going on with Algernon. He calls it "the Algernon-Gordon Effect". This means, "artificially-induced intelligence deteriorates at a rate of time directly proportional to the quantity if the increase." When Charlie finds this out it is basically saying he will die soon but Charlie is determined to keep helping the experiment. He told Professor Nemur that he will keep writing descriptive progress reports until he can't write anymore. The more information they can get out of this experiment the better. About two weeks after Charlie proposed "The Algernon-Gordon Effect," Algernon died. 

Charlie decides he needs to visit his mother, Rose, soon. When he arrives at her house he doesn't know what to say. He stands there watching her clean the outside porch. Finally Charlie builds up the courage to say, "Ma." This startles her and she runs inside and locks the door. Charlie won't turn back. He's come this far he deserves to have a conversation with her. He bangs on the doors in the vestibule until it breaks. Then she runs to the apartment and locks the door. Charlie begins to knock and say he's only come to talk and he has no intention if hurting her. Reluctantly, she opens the door and invites Charlie in. Charlie begins to tell her about the operation and that he is normal know. Rose begins to become very self-conscious about her home and she starts to clean. Then they begin to talk about the operation. Rose acts very selfish. She starts to talk about how she has to tell all her friends and that it is wonderful news. All she wants to do is brag. Before Charlie is about to leave, he gives his mom the article he wrote about "The Algernon-Gordon Effect." Just as Charlie is about to leave, Norma comes home. Charlie was hoping to avoid Norma, but now he will need to talk to her. She is very surprised to see him, but also seems happy. Charlie was expecting her to be very upset with him. Norma began to talk very fast about how she is so excited to see him and she was so happy to hear he is still alive and so on. Then, they begin to talk about their childhood. Norma doesn't really remember much but when Charlie brings up some of his memories she begins to say how sorry she was for being mean to him. When Charlie is about to leave Norma begins to cry and hugs Charlie. Then Rose stood up grabbed a knife and began to yell at Charlie, "What are you doing to her? Get away from her! I told you what I'd do to you if I ever caught you touching your sister again! Dirty mind! You don't belong with normal people." This upsets Norma. She yells at Rose to put the knife down. But Rose refused. So Norma took the knife. Charlie quickly escapes from the apartment and wishes Norma good luck.

I can’t believe the way Rose treats Charlie. It’s unbelievable that she would threaten him with a knife. What did Charlie do to deserve this poor treatment? Will Charlie die? I can’t wait to read the end of this book and find out what happens.