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ANNE MET ME AT THE DOOR when I got home froly at uess it worked," I said

There was a ed me "Thank God," she murmured

We went into the kitchen and, while she continuedsupper, I told her that, as far as I could see, Alan had re ht before, I’d slept peacefully and waked greatly refreshed In addition, the day had been spent at ithout one intrusion on my mind In that respect, at least, I was an island unto ain

"It’s still hard to believe," Anne said, "that just one visit to Alan could stop it"

"It only took one visit with your brother to start it," I said

"I guess," she said "Well, I think Alan is marvelous"

"He’d deny that," I said "You knohat he said"

I’d told her how Alan had, quickly and efficiently, put me under hypnosis and "sestion" I’d been conscious of a decided change as soon as I caone; there was only a sense of abundant well-being Which still reht from Anne’s mind

"He’ll never kno relieved I a I could have taken it I’ot up and went over to her I put ainst me tiredly

"It’s been a terrible week for you," I said "I’ll try to make it up to you" She smiled and patted my cheek

"You’re back," she said "That’s the "

"I’ed clothes I told her how Alan was going to write up the case in one of the psychiatric journals ("using only your initials, of course") The entireinto the bathroo in there to wash up," she said, "don’t The sink’s clogged up It just finished eo It took all day"

"Did you tell Sentas?" I called back

"I’ve been phoning him all day," she said, "but they’ve been out You want to try again?"

"All right" I went back into the hall and dialed Sentas’ number His wife answered "Hello?"

"Mrs Sentas, this is Tom Wallace next door," I said "Is your husband there?"

"One moment, please," she said She set down the receiver and I heard thefootsteps Faintly, I heard her call, "Harry!"

In a few moments, Sentas picked up the receiver

"What is it?" he asked

"The, uh, bathrooed up, Mr Sentas," I said "It takes hours and hours to e in it?" he asked

"I don’t think so," I answered, "and we’d appreciate it if you’d take a look at it-or have it fixed; either one"

"I just got home," he said "I haven’t even had supper yet"

"Well after supper then?" I asked "We’re really in a fix without the use of it" In the short period of silence that followed I could almost see the hard and irritated expression on his face

"I’ll stop by later," he said

"Thank you," I said But he’d already hung up

I went into the kitchen

"As cordial as ever," I said "He’s really a charot troubles too," she said

"Maybe" I went to theand looked out I saw Richard and Candy in the next yard They were sitting in Candy’s sand box, digging with spoons

"They play together very well, don’t they?" I said

"Huh," wasof huh?"

"The et hohts?"

"Well, I’ll use ative and say that it’s usually Candy’s fault As aat all"

"That’s too bad," I said, watching theo to the store," Anne asked, changing the subject, "tonight?"

"Got et?" I asked

"Quite a bit," she said "We ot hit on the head"

"Oh, that’s right Well howbeef pie So it’ll be another hour at least"

"Okay I’ll go now, then Incidentally, how is your head?"

"Fine"

"Funny if you started reading minds now," I said

"Hilarious," she said

I patted her back as I walked past her I got the grocery pad and pencil from the drawer and took it back to the table I sat down and opened it

"What’d you do with s?" I asked

"I have therandchildren," I said

Anne tried to s for her mother so I said no les to represent the counters of the market I’d write the items Anne named off on the counter which displayed it It was a habit I’d picked up the first year of our e It saved retraced steps and, in the vastnesses of the LA supermarkets, that can add up to miles and minutes

"What first?" I asked

"Let’s see," she said "Well, we need sugar, flour, salt, pepper"

"Hold it" I wrote them down in their appropriate places "Go on," I said then

"Butter Bread"

I wrote thes Bacon"

"Got it"

"A variety of soups," she said, "a variety of cereals" I wrote them down I looked up at her "Yes," I said, "what el-?" I stopped dead and looked at

By itself

I felt surepencil, at what it riting Only vaguely did I hear what Anne was saying

The pencil stopped

"Huh?" I started sharply and looked over at Anne

"I said did you get that last?"

"No No I was-still on the other" She hadn’t seen then

"You asked ot one"

"I said soda crackers, butter, cookies and peanut butter," she said

"All right" Iinto the cupboard to see what else we needed, I quickly crossed out the words I’d written across the page-realizing, as I did, that it wasn’t roceries she named I didn’t tell her; I knew Imyself It’s just a faint carry-over It doesn’tfor theabout those words I’d written; unable to efface them from my mind