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seating arrangement and I was pleased that Rose Mary was placed beside me. Our meal was of braised pork, applesauce, and biscuits. We even had fruit cups with sweetened cream and then tea to finish off our meal.
    Emily said good night to all of her charges and told me that breakfast was at eight o’clock in the morning. It would be followed by my appointment with Dr. Macy at nine o’clock.
    The creaks and settling sounds the building made didn’t allow me much sleep. I felt very much alone and was scared. I wanted my blanket for comfort but hadn’t received my belongings yet. I would ask the doctor if I could please write to my parents tomorrow, although I know correspondence is forbidden in the first week, I felt I didn’t belong here and this was an emergency.

Chapter Three
    Reality
     
    In the morning I walked from my room to the communal shower covering my private areas with the small towel I was given, and feeling ill at ease. I counted and noted my paces as usual. The spray from the nozzle was sparse and cold, and worse, anyone could come in and see me naked. I shampooed my scalp as quickly as possible, and then soaped my underarms and feet. Rinsing thoroughly, I wrapped my body in the scratchy towel and was in and out of the shower in mere minutes. Back in the privacy of my room, I donned one of the dresses that hung in the closet. The dress fit fine, it was billowy and grey, neither of which I minded. If anything it made me look younger than I was, but that was okay.
    Breakfast was comprised of sausage links, pancakes, and maple syrup. We also had a tall glass of milk and fresh fruit. My mother would never permit me to eat so lavishly, but then, mother wasn’t here. I ate my fill and felt more than satisfied. I stared at the clock, noting I had fifty minutes before my appointment with the doctor. I had fifty minutes to contrive a way to convince him I was better off at home, with my family. Granted they didn’t want me, but I would change. Forty-nine minutes.
    Finally, Emily came to escort me across the square created by facility buildings to the Chapin House, which was the centralized building where the doctors assessed their patients.
    I sat in a sterile waiting room alone, fidgeting with my hands and biting my nails until they bled. Finally, one of the two office doors opened and a man appeared before me. He held a leather-bound journal to his chest that presumably held my paperwork. According to the sign across his doorway this man was Doctor William Macy. He was stout, wore glasses, had a mustache that curled slightly at the ends, and smiled wholeheartedly at me. My heart dropped as he smiled, for I smelled a trap.
    “Iona, what a pretty name. Please come in to my office.” He stepped aside like a gentleman and let me enter before him. (Five paces from chair to chair.) His office was tidy and sparse. He had an oak desk and matching chair, a hook behind the door for his coat and hat and two extra seats pushed against the wall.
    “So, tell me, how is everyone treating you so far?” His eyes lingered on my shaved head for a moment too long.
    “Just fine.” I said trying to be brave.
    “Forgive me. I didn’t properly introduce myself. I am Doctor Macy. I have been the attendant in charge for two years now. You have been assigned to me as case number 2,343. But I prefer to call you by your name: Iona.” The doctor stood to shake my hand and I did the same.
    “Now that we are acquainted, why don’t you tell me as much as you can about yourself? Your likes and dislikes. We’ll just get to know each other a little better today, okay?” he asked.
    “Well, I like to be outside.”
    “Good, very good.” He took out his steel pen and began his copious note taking in the notebook.
    “I don’t like to be inside.” This should have gone without saying but I felt the need to spell it out since I was feeling claustrophobic.
    “Okay, understood. What is it you like to do outside?” He asked without