Francis Scott FitzgeraldThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
(Adapted book. Pre-Intermediate level)
Part 1
“I can’t say exactly who I am,” the old man replied. “I was only born a few hours ago. But I know my last name is Button.”
Our story starts in the summer of 1860, in the busy city of Baltimore. At that time, babies were usually born at home, not in hospitals. But young Mr. and Mrs. Roger Button had different ideas. They wanted their first baby to arrive in a hospital.
Was this one of the reasons for the strange history that I am going to tell you? I can only describe what happened. Then you can decide.
The Roger Buttons were important people in Baltimore society. They knew every good family in town, and everyone knew them. This was their first baby, so Mr. Button was naturally nervous. He was hoping for a boy so he could send him to Yale College in Connecticut. Mr. Roger Button was a student at Yale when he was a young man. Of course, he wanted his son to follow him there.
The great day arrived. Mr. Button hurried to the hospital one morning in September for news of his wife and baby.
When he was close to the Maryland Private Hospital, he saw the family doctor on the front steps. There was a serious look on the doctor’s face and this worried Mr. Button.
He ran toward the doctor.
“Doctor Keene!” he called. “Oh, Doctor Keene!”
The doctor heard him, and turned around. He saw Mr. Button, and a curious look came over his face.
“What happened?” asked Mr. Button. “What was it? How is she? A boy?