I slept in a little coffin on-campus, perfectly climate controlled. It was cramped and dull, but my access to the network was free and I had plenty of material to entertain myself. While I couldn't get a table in a restaurant, I was free to queue up at any of the makers around town and get myself whatever I wanted to eat and drink, whenever I wanted it. Compared to 99.99999 percent of all the people who'd ever lived, I had a life of unparalleled luxury. Even by the standards of the Bitchun Society, I was hardly a rarity. The number of low-esteem individuals at large was significant, and they got along just fine, hanging out in parks, arguing, reading, staging plays, playing music. Of course, that wasn't the life for me. I had Dan to pal around with, a rare high-net-Whuffie individual who was willing to fraternize with a shmuck like me. He'd stand me to meals at sidewalk cafes and concerts at the SkyDome, and shoot down any snotty reputation-punk who sneered at my Whuffie tally. Being with Dan was a process of constantly reevaluating my beliefs in the Bitchun Society, and I'd never had a more vibrant, thought-provoking time in all my life. I could have left the Park, deadheaded to anywhere in the world, started over. I could have turned my back on Dan, on Debra, on Lil and the whole mess. I didn't. I called up the doc. ========= CHAPTER 8 ========= Doctor Pete answered on the third ring, audio-only. In the background, I heard a chorus of crying children, the constant backdrop of the Magic Kingdom infirmary. "Hi, doc," I said. "Hello, Julius. What can I do for you?" Under the veneer of professional medical and castmember friendliness, I sensed irritation. _Make it all good again_. "I'm not really sure. I wanted to see if I could talk it over with you. I'm having some pretty big problems." "I'm on-shift until five. Can it wait until then?" By then, I had no idea if I'd have the nerve to see him. "I don't think so -- I was hoping we could meet right away." "If it's an emergency, I can have an ambulance sent for you." "It's urgent, but not an emergency. I need to talk about it in person. Please?" He sighed in undoctorly, uncastmemberly fashion. "Julius, I've got important things to do here. Are you sure this can't wait?" I bit back a sob. "I'm sure, doc." "All right then. When can you be here?" Lil had made it clear that she didn't want me in the Park. "Can you meet me? I can't really come to you. I'm at the Contemporary, Tower B, room 2334." "I don't really make house calls, son." "I know, I know." I hated how pathetic I sounded. "Can you make an exception? I don't know who else to turn to." "I'll be there as soon as I can. I'll have to get someone to cover for me. Let's not make a habit of this, all right?" I whooshed out my relief. "I promise." He disconnected abruptly, and I found myself dialing Dan. "Yes?" he said, cautiously.