On the way to the breakfast area, Thomas looked down at my canteen.
“Dr. Melcher okay that?”
“Yeah, he did.”
“Why do you need it?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Just don’t give it to anybody else.”
“I won’t.”
You better not.
I picked up a tray and started going through the food line. Everything looked especially appeasing today. I guess for fifteen hundred a day, I should be getting decent food. As I came out of the line, I noticed some action in the dining area.
“She took my muffin!” shouted the guy in the hunting cap. He was pointing at the woman who never says anything. For some reason they had decided to sit together. Thomas was intervening.
“C’mon, Hank, settle down.” He was pushing Hank away from the table. I guess the muffin meant a lot to the guy.
“Bitch! My food is MY food!” Hank wouldn’t let it go.
“C’mon Hank, let’s get you back to the unit.”
“Fuck you! I’m not going in to the quiet room.” Then he did the unthinkable. Hank ran. I couldn’t believe how quick that geezer could move. However, he didn’t make it too far. A couple of nicely sized orderlies picked him up as he rounded a corner.
“Bastards! I’m not going in there!” he shouted as he was hustled toward the quiet room.
“Some people just don’t learn,” said Thomas. Then he turned his head toward me.
“I’m certainly glad you’ve come to your senses, Kev. I’d like to see you out of here as soon as possible. A good guy like you shouldn’t be in here in the first place.”
“Thanks.” Thomas’ change of attitude surprised me. I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth though.
I settled down in to a seat next to Darc.
Sup dude.
Not a whole lot. Just trying to deal, ya know?
I understand. I’ve been doing this longer than you, ya know.
What do you mean?
Dude, you think you’re the start and the end of this madness?
Um…
C’mon, man. You know what this is.
No, I don’t.
Please, you can’t be that ignorant.
Um…
Kev, this is it, man. This is the struggle.
What are you talking about?
Dude…this is where it all happens.
Where what happens?
I’m beginning to think you need more help.
I guess I do.
Get ready.
For what?
“Dude, eat your food,” said Darc, as he bit into a piece of toast.
“What’s gonna happen?” My eyes must’ve belied my fear, because as he turned toward me, Darc seemed more like my dad than like a punk white kid.
“You’ll be okay, Kev. You’ll be okay.”
I hope so.
“Dr. Melcher okay that?”
“Yeah, he did.”
“Why do you need it?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Just don’t give it to anybody else.”
“I won’t.”
You better not.
I picked up a tray and started going through the food line. Everything looked especially appeasing today. I guess for fifteen hundred a day, I should be getting decent food. As I came out of the line, I noticed some action in the dining area.
“She took my muffin!” shouted the guy in the hunting cap. He was pointing at the woman who never says anything. For some reason they had decided to sit together. Thomas was intervening.
“C’mon, Hank, settle down.” He was pushing Hank away from the table. I guess the muffin meant a lot to the guy.
“Bitch! My food is MY food!” Hank wouldn’t let it go.
“C’mon Hank, let’s get you back to the unit.”
“Fuck you! I’m not going in to the quiet room.” Then he did the unthinkable. Hank ran. I couldn’t believe how quick that geezer could move. However, he didn’t make it too far. A couple of nicely sized orderlies picked him up as he rounded a corner.
“Bastards! I’m not going in there!” he shouted as he was hustled toward the quiet room.
“Some people just don’t learn,” said Thomas. Then he turned his head toward me.
“I’m certainly glad you’ve come to your senses, Kev. I’d like to see you out of here as soon as possible. A good guy like you shouldn’t be in here in the first place.”
“Thanks.” Thomas’ change of attitude surprised me. I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth though.
I settled down in to a seat next to Darc.
Sup dude.
Not a whole lot. Just trying to deal, ya know?
I understand. I’ve been doing this longer than you, ya know.
What do you mean?
Dude, you think you’re the start and the end of this madness?
Um…
C’mon, man. You know what this is.
No, I don’t.
Please, you can’t be that ignorant.
Um…
Kev, this is it, man. This is the struggle.
What are you talking about?
Dude…this is where it all happens.
Where what happens?
I’m beginning to think you need more help.
I guess I do.
Get ready.
For what?
“Dude, eat your food,” said Darc, as he bit into a piece of toast.
“What’s gonna happen?” My eyes must’ve belied my fear, because as he turned toward me, Darc seemed more like my dad than like a punk white kid.
“You’ll be okay, Kev. You’ll be okay.”
I hope so.