I stepped through the door, and once again blinked at the brightness of the room. How could anyone even sleep in here? My eyes traveled along the padded walls, but not for long. The only occupant in the room quickly demanded my attention. He had blond hair, one green eye, and one blue one. Or, at least it seemed that way at first. They seemed to change like lights at a dance club.
"Hi!" He greeted cheerily. Standing up on two legs, he walked over to inspect my elbows. Leaning each way and that, he nearly fell over once or twice. You see, his arms had been fastened behind his back by the straight jacket.
I didn't quite know what to say. 'Hello' just didn't seem appropriate. "So...you test straight jackets?"
He nodded eagerly. To demonstrate, he struggled, and writhed. The jacket didn't come off.
"So it works pretty good, then."
More nodding. "Oh, one thing." He stepped closer. "Could you unlock this for me?" Turning around, he showed me the buckles holding the jacket together.
I blinked. "Wouldn't defeat the purpose of testing it?"
He didn't move away. "No! That is the purpose."
Until I left the floor, or the room, anyway, I figured I had nothing better to do. I grabbed the buckle and undid it. "How long have you been working here?"
"Long enough." As soon as the buckle came off, a smile exploded off his face, sending his teeth scattering around the room. Hours later I still found pieces of teeth in my hair. "I'm free!" He dashed toward the door.
Finally it occured to me that I should probably ask for directions out of here, but the straight-jacket tester had already disapeared. I moved to follow him out the door...but it slammed shut. Sitting on the floor, I wondered how I would find my way out of here. I walked to the door, but the inside didn't have a handle. I walked past each corner of the room, checked the ceiling and the floor, but still I didn't find an escape.
And so I picked up the straight jacket and I put it on.
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