XISOMEONE SAT DOWN ON the bench next to me and the vibration got my attention. Someone who hadn't walked in from anywhere.
"Hey there. You must be new in town." It was a light, female voice.
I looked over at her. Sandy hair, red-on-white candy-striper dress. Wide smile below a freckled, turned-up nose. Long legs ending in white nurses shoes, crossed at the ankles, hands in her lap.
"Yes, that would be me. New guy. In the endless park."
"Oh you don't have to be so down about it. It's always a nice day here. You can't get sunburned. And you're never hungry. Of course, you also can't get a tan here, so my legs are always whiter than I'd like. But I'm not here to be a distraction, I'm just here to help you get better." Her bubbly enthusiasm was certainly helping cheer me up.
"I'm John. Wh
