Children are being held for an exchange. The atmosphere is threatening.

A doctor massages the muscles on my back. It is very painful. Then his assistant takes over. They do not have many other patients. The doctor asks me if I am a psychoanalyst. I say no. R. has told the doctor that hard times are ahead. I say yes, it won’t get any easier.

I buy several pairs of red socks. I tell the shop assistant that I will come back and buy black ones if the red ones make me feel like a clown.