Progress Report 13 Summary

On June 10, Charlie flies to Chicago with Professor Nemur, Burt and Dr. Strauss for the conference for the International Psychological Association. Burt gives him a tape recorder so he can dictate his reports right up to the time of the presentation, when they intend to play some excerpts. Charlie buckles his seatbelt, hating the feeling of being trapped. Then he remembers his parents taking him to a doctor, when he was five or so, who said he might be able to make Charlie smart. His parents argued over the money; his father, Matt, worked ten-hour days selling barbershop supplies, while his mother spent every dime on quacks for Charlie. This doctor, Guarino, straps Charlie to a machine that roars like an airplane. It does not hurt, but it panics Charlie, and he soils himself. The doctor is nice to him, but...