Tok, Alaska

8

The new day dawned. It was Saturday, so everyone was home, save Thomas, Walt and Walter, who had apparently stayed the night with whomever they had gone off with the previous night. Life at the Asylum was beginning to become somewhat routine for Erik. It was a very pleasant day and everyone was outside. He went outside to say good morning, but soon returned to the living room. He was feeling determined, to do what he did not know. He decided to write another letter to his father. He was able to find an envelope, paper, and a book of stamps in the kitchen. He wrote,

"Hey Dad,

I've been with the Duffys for a week now. Everything seems fine. I promised I'd be in touch. I've developed a special relationship, I believe, with Thomas's (that's the oldest son) girlfriend, Kendra. She's really a beautiful person. I hope to get to know her even better. We all went to a poetry reading last night. I met a couple of interesting poets. Their names, I believe, were William and Raymond. Everyone seems to have long hair but me!

Well, that's all for now. I'm sorry I'm not providing you with a return address. I feel more comfortable, for now, knowing that you will receive my messages, without hearing back. You'll be able to write me, eventually. I hope things are all right in Park Slope.

Love, your son,

Erik"

He licked the envelope and went outside to put it in the mailbox. As he did, he was struck with the same odd feeling he'd felt a couple of times before during his time in Alaska. It was as if everything had already happened, that everything he was doing was out of his control. He snapped out of it and decided that he would devote the day to finishing Demian and trying once more at Super Mario Bros. He went inside.

He finished Demian. He had to admit that it was a remarkable work of literature, and he could see exactly what Walter had meant when he had compared Molly to Frau Eva. He thought that the whole thing was very beautiful.

He then turned his attention to the NES and the TV set. He was feeling determined and energized by his conversation with Kendra in the van the previous night, somehow. He realized that he was very much attracted to her.

He started up Super Mario Bros. Early in the first world he lost a couple of lives, so he unplugged the system and started over again. This time everything was going right. He was collecting coins, getting 1-ups, and not dying. Amazingly, he found himself in World 8-4, with three lives left. He navigated the maze-like level and got to the very end of the game, facing the dragon spitting fire at him. He evaded the fire and weapons being hurled at him and slid under the dragon, hitting the final spot to send the dragon down into the pit of fire. He couldn't believe it. He had beaten the game. After the ending graphics, he turned off the TV and ran outside to find Walter. He was sitting on one of the swinging benches around the circle. Apparently he, Walt and Thomas had returned from wherever they'd been.

"Hey, guess what?" Erik asked excitedly.

"What's up?"

"I beat Mario! The original game, that is."

"Well! Congratulations, my friend."

"I feel such a sense of closure. It's like a piece of my childhood has been wrapped up."

Walter nodded. "Of course."

"I feel very artistic somehow, since that poetry reading. Do you know what I mean? I don't know in what capacity, though."

"Well," said Walter, "maybe you're just a life artist."

"Life artist," said Erik. "I like that. I think I'll go with that." He smiled.