The Box Man

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dissimilar. For the first time a fountain pen is being used, and the writing is clearly different. If in time someone makes a clear copy in a new notebook with other notes, they should simply standardize the paper and the writing. There’s no need to worry about the difference in writing and in paper now.)
    -Well then. Now what? (said the doctor). -I’m thirsty. (she complained).
    -There’s a crack in that glass.
    -I don’t care.
    -Well …
    -I took them off … just as I promised.
    -I’m asking about the light.
    -Is this all the beer there is?
    -I’m interested in how dark it was as you were taking your clothes off.
    -It was pitch black. It was so dark it took me a long time to unfasten my brassiere.
    -There’s no relationship between the light and the brassiere. Anyway you can do that by touch.
    -Well, I suppose so, but…
    -Let it go. And then what?
    -He lost patience and insisted on helping me unfasten the brassiere … he wouldn’t listen.
    -Strange.
    -Why?
    -It was pitch black, wasn’t it? How did he know you were having trouble with the brassiere?
    -Oh, he just knew… some way or other.
    -Then you did get him to help?
    -Not at all.
    -Why?
    -I made a promise, didn’t I, absolutely not to let him touch me? Besides, see how long my arms are. I can shake hands behind my back.
    -All right. So then you took off your clothes in the dark, and after you had finished, you turned on the light. Is that right?
    -Yes, I think so… .
    -Well, what about the shot?
    -I gave it, of course.
    -Naked?
    -You can’t break the capsule by feel.
    -Being naked’s enough. It’s ridiculous to go so far as giving a shot naked.
    -It comes to the same thing, doesn’t it?
    -There’s a big difference.
    -Don’t raise your voice so.
    Listen to me. You’re a lot more frankly naked when some of your clothes are off than when they’re all off. The same logic holds true for shots. A naked body doing something is more completely naked than a simple nude. You can’t get away with saying you didn’t know it.
    -I realize that. I’ll be careful from now on.
    -Try repeating what happened in order once more from
    the beginning.
    -So I took off my clothes, turned on the light…
    -Before that, the light was out, wasn’t it?
    -So I turned out the light, took off my clothes, turned on the light, and then gave the shot.
    -Pretty amazing. During all that time you didn’t say a word … isn’t it?
    -I don’t mean that…
    -We’re going to be in trouble if you abridge whenever you want.
    -He didn’t say anything important. It’s true. I recall we talked about the weather … as he patted my hair like this …
    -You promised not to let him use his hands.
    -But it was only my hair.
    -It’s the same thing … anywhere…
    -But he just happened to touch my hair just by chance, and…
    -Don’t shield him.
    -It was just when I was leaning over to turn on the lamp by the pillow.-The lamp?
    -He asked me to.
    -What?
    -There are places you can’t see very well with the light coming only from above.
    -Drop it there. There’ll be no end to it if you spoil him so much.
    -You’re right. I’ll be careful.
    -Then what did he say?
    -He said it looked like rain… since my hair was winding into little curls.
    You were just wet with perspiration.
    Yes, I was dripping.
    But just a minute. Before his weather report, you were asked to put the light on, weren’t you?
    -Yes, the light came first.
    -You’re not reliable.
    -I’m sorry. I’m already exhausted. I’m not suited to this sort of thing. Look, my legs are trembling as if I’d got on top of an electric washer.
    Well, come over here. My lap’s better than any washer.
    -I’d like a smoke.
    -Smoking late at night makes your skin rough.
    -It’s better than being naked.
    -You’re exaggerating. Don’t go thinking a fellow like that’s a man. Being naked in front of him is no more than taking your panties off in the bathroom.
    -You, Doctor, are the one who’s concerned with my nakedness in front of

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