Donald Barthelme

 

from Robert Kennedy Saved from. Drowning

Childhood of K as Recalled by a Former Teacher

      "He was a very alert boy, very bright, good at his studies, very thorough, very conscientious. But that's not unusual, that de- scribes a good number of the boys who pass through here. It's not unusual, that is, to find these qualities which are after all the qualities that we look for and encourage in them. What was unusual about K. was his compassion, something very rare for a boy of that age---even if they have it, they're usually very careful not to display it for fear of seeming soft, girlish. I remember, though, that in K. this particular attribute was very marked. I would almost say that it was his strongest characteristic.