got the receipt

Zack Bottom looks back on that day often from the hospital bed. It is traumatic, but there is nothing worth watching on the television and the view of the carpark from his bed bores him.

He thinks that he could have done something to prevent Katy Jumbles from using that pen.

But how did he know that pen would cause the explosion?

Was it a memory? Was it a dream?

A premonition?

His doctor thinks he should see a psychiatrist.

I'm not mad, he says.

No, the doctor says. But you have been through a traumatic event. You watched someone die. You suffered injuries.

Zack sulks and won't speak to the doctor.

Marion visits. She brings with her some of his favourite biscuits and a new dressing gown.

I have the receipt, she says. If you need to take it back.

Zack laughs. I don't think I can take anything back anywhere. They won't let me leave, and I can't walk anyway.

Marion still walks with a limp but otherwise seems fine.

You know what I mean, she says. How are you holding up?

My doctor thinks I'm mad, Zack says.

Sounds like he knows what he's talking about, Marion says, smiling.

joint

A few days later, Marion returns with some outside clothes and a wheelchair.

Let's get out of this joint, she says in a mock New York accent.

Zack shrugs; he is keen to escape, but doesn't want to show it.

Marion sneaks Zack past the nurses' station because he is supposed to have permission from the doctor to leave the ward, and he is supposed to see the psychiatrist later that morning.

This will do me more good.

They wait until the nursing staff are distracted by an alarm call and then Marion wheels Zack out of the ward and into the elevator. They both snigger like naughty children as the doors close.

What do you want to do? Marion asks as she wheels Zack out of the front door.

I'd like to go to the park, Zack says. I need some fresh air.

Your wish is my command, Marion says and pushes Zack out into the cool autumn air.

The park is busy. Full of mothers pushing prams, and old people sitting on benches. Zack can't remember the last time he was in a park. Marion wheels him to the duck pond and they watch the swans swim around for a while.

her dream

They sit in silence, listening to the ducks squaking over food thrown to them by a young child, his mother standing nearby looking at her mobile phone.

Marion tells Zack about a dream she had.

Last night, she says. I dreamt of the explosion. But it wasn't the same.

Zack sits in silence, biting his lip. He doesn't want to hear about Marion's dream.

Especially, if it is about that day.

I opened the door, Marion said, and the woman - Katy Jumbles, Zack thinks. You should use her name - suddenly turned into a bird.

Was it a duck? Zack asks, trying to bring her back to the park.

No, Marion says. It was a phoenix, I think. That's the mythical bird born of fire, isn't it?

Zack shrugs. He isn't that interested in mythical birds at the best of times.

And lately he has been pretty short of best of times.

...

...