He will return in triumph at the head of his troops." Oh, I wish I could believe you," said the weeping woman, "Is it very wrong of me to want company...and solace while he is risking his life?" No, ma'am; it is entirely natural for you to cling to someone you know." Then please make me forget him, at least for a few minutes. Do whatever you need to; hurt me, fuck me, anything. Just make me forget for a few moments."Robinson wondered whether anyone could possibly achieve that. Then he decided. Ever since I can remember she always pushed me in that direction. Iknow she really wanted a daughter. When I was born she insisted I begiven a gender-neutral name."When I was little Mom was really active in contacting other mothers inthe neighborhood and finding playmates for me."What I was too young to realize right away was that all my playmateswere girls. In fact, looking back, Mom made a real effort to keep me awayfrom boys. There was a storefront preschool and private kindergarten nearour. "Did they all jump in the water?"I had to shake her a few times until she said, "They were burning and jumped overboard." I looked around and saw the firepots and the smoke and knew that the animals had not fled us but the flames.There was cannon fire above us and lots more grenades. The screams of men were heard. Muskets fired almost constantly but I knew that this would not harm the animals. I wanted to get away but we were actually under their guns now. The ship in front of us began to lose. It's just that I totally and absolutely hate being on duty at a state psychiatric facility on Halloween. That's why at the very beginning of every year I put in for a week of vacation from October 28th through November 2nd. You approve it every year, including this year. I do that because I do not want to be here nor do I have any desire to be on call at all this week."Dr. Marion Hudson, director of the Madison State Psychiatric Hospital slowly shook her head and replied, "I know, Frank, I.