Fast Fiction: Inner Vision Thing
'Tell me which of Shakespeare's sonnets has 15 lines,' Rupert asks. 'Number 99,' is the reply, at which Rupert stalks away as if on stilts. Is he putting on an act? And what of the other characters in Richard Mallinson's claustrophobic tale?
During one of my sessions with Dr Havant he said, 'I'm sure there's something going on between Rupert and Mrs Elly Olson. And Plitt can't keep his hands off Katherine and Virginia, though they don't seem to mind.'
'I haven't noticed any of this,' I wanted to say.
After a while, he said, 'Next week, we'll talk about your inner vision thing.'
'My what?' I wanted to yell.
After leaving Dr Havant's room I went for a stroll in the grounds. I recalled my first day, when I was greeted by the svelte Mrs Elly Olson...
'Dr Havant is away at the moment,' she said, 'so please come to me if you have any problems.'
Then she gave me a dark-eyed smile and asked Plitt, the attendant, to take me to the dayroom, where he told the others my name.
Slowly and coyly they told me theirs. First were Katherine and Virginia, who looked smart in their blouses and skirts. They did a mock dance around me.
Next was Rupert, who was so tall and thin that a puff of wind from an open window (if there'd been one) would have blown him over.
He said, 'Tell me which of Shakespeare's sonnets has 15 lines.'
'Number 99,' I instantly replied. At which he stalked away as if on stilts.
A week later I saw the return by taxi of our sleek warden, Dr Dermot Havant. Had he been the main speaker at an important conference? Perhaps not.
I noticed that he left his suitcase on the gravel. Moments later Plitt slouched out, collected it and staggered back in - putting on an act.
But, then, with one exception, weren't we all?
