The mall was noisy and crowded. It was a beehive. Abuzz with freak and hyper-activity.

Maggie clutched Glen's arm as they took the escalator.

"I'm OK," mumbled Glen.

Glen's eyes darted in all possible directions. He tried to pay attention to sounds around him to get something into his blank mind. That only stressed him; he looked at the feet of the people hurrying around. The tik-tacks of heels as they rattled on the glazed tiles. It was useless.

Maggie pointed out something or somebody and began walking towards it. She said something Glen couldn't catch. He nodded and followed. It was the groceries.

"What brand of peanut butter do you buy?" she inquired. And then quickly added, "Morton's is what I prefer." She dumped a can in the trolley. "Your mom said I should get some greens for you." Spinach and broccoli fell in the trolley. She was inspecting some tomatoes.

Mom wouldn't have let him stay alone. And she had sent Maggie. He thought he had mom convinced that he could get along alone now.

"I gotta take a leak," said Glen.

"Do you w-"

"No, I think I'll be ok. You're here right?"

"Yea."

Glen limped towards the door marked GENTLEMEN.

He avoided the mirror this time. He kept his crutch aside and unzipped. Somebody flushed. And then whistled. As the Queer emanated from the cubicle, Glen looked over his shoulder.

The Queer had green hair and pinkish-blonde whiskers on his chin. His jeans were slit over a dozen places and he wore just a golden sleeveless jacket to cover his barren chest.

Glen realized he had been staring. He peered back again at the naphthalene balls tumbling in the urinal.

The Queer whistled again as if acknowledging Glen's awkwardness. Glen glanced back. He seemed to be waiting for Glen's glance. He raised an eyebrow in greeting. He brought out a slinky pair of glares from somewhere and nested them on his feminine nose. The Queer gave Glen a V peace sign. Glen acknowledged and tilted his head.

The Queer went over to the washbasin and washed his hands and his armpits. Glen kept on staring. The Queer smiled at him. Then the Queer climbed up on the sink and jiggled like a stripper. HA HA HA, he laughed a crazy laugh. He jumped down and saw the crutch. "HEY!" he said curiously. He picked one up and sang, "Yeah-yeah-yeahhhh!" Next, Glen watched on as he strummed it and again broke into a jig. He laughed that hyena laugh once again, stepped forward and smashed the mirror.

"Cool." The Queer seemed satisfied. He placed the crutch back carefully and winked at Glen. "Are you done yet? HAHAHAHAHA." Glen looked down again and realized he was done. He pulled up his fly and looked back.

The Queer had left.