"Hey, Billy. What's with the lights out?"

Her hair was a red flash of life in the colorless room.

"It's nice to see you, Chey."

"You see me every morning, baby."

"It's nice to see you every morning."

"Awww! Aren't you sweet. But you can't see me with the lights off."

She reached for the old-style flip-switch, and the yellow florescent overheads flickered on.

"You know, I told Lola you should have a room with a window for your studio. I said, 'How can our little Picasso paint right with no sun?' She said she'd take it up with the Big Guys in Washington. She says that a lot. She means, 'Tough luck, cookie, it ain't never gonna happen.'"

Chey looked around the room. Something struck her as odd.

"Billy? What happened to your things? That plaster kitten was sitting there . . . and the old toy soldier . . . the silk flowers . . . did someone take them from you?"

"No."

"It's OK, baby. You can tell me. Did the guards take them? Lola?"

"No, I put them away."

"Who made you put them away?"

"No one. I just felt like it."

"Honey, I know that's not true. You can't lie to a mind-reader. Well, you can, but not without her knowing. You're upset that they're gone. That's why you're sitting here in the dark."

"I just . . . I just put them away."

"Something's going on here, Billy, and I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. Why are you blocking me? What happened? Who are you protecting?"

"No one, Chey! It's . . . it's a surprise. I want to make a surprise. Just for once, Chey. Please? I'm tired of everyone watching me and reading my mind and telling me what to do all the time. It makes me sad."

Chey took a breath.

"I'm sorry baby. I lost it there for a minute. Of course you can make a surprise. It's just . . . you never blocked me before. But hey, that's OK. Most of the people who live here block me all the time. You're always so open with me, and that's very sweet. But I understand. Especially with . . . well, with men and women. Sometimes men have thoughts that they're . . . um . . . embarassed to have women listen in on. You know what I mean?"

Billy nodded.

"So it's OK."

Billy nodded again.

"So what are you going to paint today? Or is it a surprise?"

"I . . . I can't paint when my things are in the wrong place."

"Hmm. Then what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Sit here."

"All day?"

"Mmm-hmmm."

"Are you sure?"

"Mmm-hmmm."

"OK, baby. I'll check on you later. Try to have a good morning."

"Chey?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you turn the light off when you leave?"

"Sure baby. Sure."