Journal Assigment 2

“Why did you look at me that way?”

“What way?”

“You grimaced!”

The white-coat shook his head sadly.  “I didn’t.”

“You did!”

“Nothing of the sort.”

I might as well give up.  There’s no point in arguing with white-coats anyhow.  Besides, his expression has changed.  He’s a bit confused, a bit afraid.  That’s normal.

 “Why did you come to see me?” I ask.

“Just wanted to make sure you’re comfortable.”  He’s lying; I tell him so. He smiles.  “Fair enough.  I’d like to introduce you to someone.”

“Not another specialist.  I’m tired of specialists.  Too much poking and grimacing.”

He half-smiles.  “No.  Just someone.  I’m going to talk with them; I’d like you to tell me their expressions.”

“Is it a test?”

He hesitates, then half-lies. “Yes, like a test.”

Half-lies always confuse me the most.  It’s hard to tell what’s a half or which is right.  I let it go.

“Ok.  But not too long. I’m tired.”

He leaves the room, comes back with someone else.  The newcomer is swarming with emotions.

White-coat clears his throat.  “Let’s begin, shall we?”

Newcomer grunts.

“This passport is yours?  This is your real name?”

“Yes.” Newcomer’s voice is cleaner, sharper than I expected.

“Bored.” I state.

“No lie?” asks White-coat.

“No lie.” I confirm.  “But now confusion…interest… arrogance…a little fear.”

“Thank you,” says White-coat.  Next question.  Are you responsible for the disappearance of the Gamma Device?”

Newcomer shifts in his seat. “No.”

My turn.  “Lie. Also pride.”  Newcomer looks at me with less arrogance and a little more fear.

“Is it at one of these locations?”  He begins reading through a list.  I’m not familiar with any of the places.  Some sound like towns, others are a person’s house or workplace.

Newcomer doesn’t acknowledge the question.

I keep playing my part.  “Bored…Bored…Haughty…Bored…”

White-coat pauses to clear his throat.

“Can we stop soon?”  I ask.  “I’m tired.”

“Soon.”  White-coat continues his list.

I continue mine.  “Bored…Bored…Fear…”

White-coat stops.  He reads the location again.  “It’s really there?”

Newcomer growls, “Of course not!  I didn’t take it!  I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Lie, lie, lie,” I respond.  I think maybe I’m getting the hang of this test.  “Panic.”

He stands up quickly.  “What is this…this…freak?” he rasps out.  I hear the table being shoved out of the way, sounds of a scuffle, of punches.

White-coat calls for help.  There’re shouts in the hall, and footsteps, and soon the door bursts open.  There’s a gunshot, a scream, a thud.  Quiet.

It takes me a while to make out Newcomer’s expression.  It frightens me.  I force myself to whisper it.

“Blank.”

After a moment, White-coat answers me.  “Thank you; you’ve been very helpful. That will be all.”

The others take Newcomer away.

Trying to forget the Blank, my mind wanders.  When White-coat opens the door to go, I stop him.  “Just one thing.  Why did you look at me that way?”

He smiles.  “It’s just that they never told me that you’re blind.”