Let's Go Play at the Adams'

"Terry, what'm I going to do?"

Barbara turned her cheek down on the pillow and closed her eyes; and of course, that very

question came to her mind. "Terry, what ... ?"

It wasn't hard to imagine what she'd say.

"But Barb, for godsakes, how?" Terry was headshaking amused. "You're bigger than they

are, you're stronger, you're smarter. How could you let them do a thing like this to you?"

"It was after .I went to sleep"-Barbara felt guilty at once--"Maybe I snored, and that's how

they knew I was sleeping, or something. Anyhow, the children or Bobby alone-I guess it had

to be Bobby-came into the room with something, drugs or something, in a rag. I had a bad

dream. That must've been when he was making me breathe it. Afterwards, they tied me

up."

"But why?,, Imagined Terry was unconcerned with sympathy. Her inaudible voice was

disbelieving, of course, but now equally amused. Possibly she smiled.

"I don't know."

"Then find out," Terry said simply. "They can't keep you gagged forever. You've got to eat

and drink-even they know that. Anyhow pretty soon they'll get curious, they'll want to know

what you think about their grand joke. And when they do ungag you, don't yell or scream or

lose your temper. You're three fourths of a teacher by now, you've read your learning

psych, you know how their minds work. Use some of

11

it. Talk to them; be interested in all this. There're only two of them, they know you, they

like you. Sooner or later they'll get bored silly and let you go."

Terry, as always, was hard to refute. Hers was a practical, a reasoning, an analytical

mind devoid of whims and enthusiasms. Moreover, at this moment, hers was a

welcome--if imagined-argument.

"That's right. ... " Encouraged, Barbara pursued the thought. "And they can't keep me

tied up forever. I've got to go to the bathroom and get some exercise and blood

circulation. That could be my excuse for getting up, and when. I do. . . . " In time,

however, she became aware that" she was thinking toward an absent audience. Terry

vanished-bored or called away on more important matters-and was gone. The room

was empty once more. On the other hand, it was perceptibly more bearable.

Reminded now, Barbara considered all the realities, the unpleasant and impossible

chores the children would face by themselves. Cooking, once the sweets were gone,

restarting the well-pump when it was airlocked (Dr. Adams had showed her how),

shopping, replacing fuses, fending off possible visitors, answering telephone calls,

making excuses for her own absence, even amusing themselves. They could never do it

all. It was an adults' world, and alone in it, two youngsters their age would soon

discover their weaknesses. Well then, wait it out, she told herself.

Periodically one or another of the pair came in to inspect her and make sure that she

was not freeing herself, then leave again. They were up and down the hall, in and out of

their rooms, back and forth outside and inside with the doors banging heedlessly

behind. The liquor of freedom was in them, and until it burned down, she could only lie

quietly and wait.

Finally, after about two agonizing hours, Bobby-now fully dressed--came into the room,

and after checking her security again, picked up the phone by her bed, and dialed.

There was a br-r-rttt at the other end of the line, and then conversation.

12

His face, which had been thoughtful, quickly assumed a Sunday-scrubbed smile (like

yesterday). "Good morning . . . Mrs. Randall? This is Bobby Adams. Is John there? ... May I

talk to him, please? •.. What, ma'am?" Bobby paused and then said with enthusiasm, "Real

great! And Barbara's taking us swimming in the river this afternoon, again. You should see

her swim; she's on the college team ... yeah. Yes, ma'am, we will ... OK, thank you." There

was silence.

Bobby put his hand over the receiver and yelled, "Cindy! Pick up the phone in the kitchen,

but keep your hand over the mouthpiece. OK?"

From far away, Cindy yelled, 1'0K."

After a moment more, Bobby removed his hand.

"John," he said cautiously. "Yeah, is your mother right there? ... OK." Again his face

changed, this time to very serious, almost possessed. His voice became imitation adult,

clipped. "Red Fox One to Freedom Leader, do you read me? Over."

Silence for a second or two.

"OK, Freedom Leader," be continued. "Mission

going OK so far ....Yeah, no kidding! Yeah, I told

you. We have her . Yeah, Code Urgent from now

on. No, I'm looking right at her right now just like we planned. Right, Red Fox Two?" He

yelled this last at Cindy (in the kitchen). "Yeah, see? OK, Cindy, get off the phone, now. Now

listen, John, can you do what you said about this morning? Yeah, you call the other kids and