benches glittered in the warm, afternoon sunlight "It's very nice out here," I reluctantly admitted
to Lyle.
"They've got to keep it nice. Everyone here
comes from a wealthy family. They want to be sure
the money continues to flow into the institution. You
should see this place when they schedule one of their fetes for the families of patients. Every inch is spickand-span, not a weed, not a speck of dust, and not a
face without a smile," he said, smirking.
"You sound very critical of them, Lyle, yet you
want to stay. Why don't you think about trying life on
the outside again? You're much brighter than most
boys I've met," I said. He blanched but looked away. "I'm not ready yet," he replied. "But I can tell
just from the short time I've been with you that you
definitely don't belong here."
"I've got another session scheduled with Dr.
Cheryl. He's going to find a way to keep me. I just
know it," I moaned. "Daphne gives this place too
much money for him not to do what she wants." I
embraced myself and looked down as we walked
along. Around us and even behind us, the attendants
watched.
"You go ask to go to the bathroom," Lyle
suddenly said. "It's right off the rear entrance. They
won't bother you. To the left of the rest room is a
short stairway which goes down to the basement. The
second door on the right is the laundry room. They've
already done their laundry work for today. They do it
in the morning. So there won't be anyone there." "Are you sure?"
"I told you, I've been here ten years. I know
which clocks run slow and which run fast, what door
hinges squeak, and where there are windows without