Chapter 25

           TwowhoresontheirwaydownfromPortlandtotakeusdeep-seafishinginaboat!Itmadeittoughtostayinbeduntilthedormlightscameonatsix-thirty.

           IwasthefirstoneupoutofthedormtolookatthelistpostedontheboardnexttotheNurses’Station,checktoseeifmynamewasreallysignedthere.SIGNUPFORDEEPSEAFISHINGwasprintedinbiglettersatthetop,thenMcMurphyhadsignedfirstandBillyBibbitwasnumberone,rightafterMcMurphy.NumberthreewasHardingandnumberfourwasFredrickson,andallthewaydowntonumbertenwherenobody’dsignedyet.Mynamewasthere,thelastputdown,acrossfromthenumbernine.Iwasactuallygoingoutofthehospitalwithtwowhoresonafishingboat;Ihadtokeepsayingitoverandovertomyselftobelieveit.

           Thethreeblackboysslippedupinfrontofmeandreadthelistwithgrayfingers,foundmynamethereandturnedtogrinatme.

           "Why,whoyous’posesignedChiefBromdenupforthisfoolishness?Inniunsain’tabletowrite."

           "WhatmakesyouthinkInniunsabletoread?"

           Thestarchwasstillfreshandstiffenoughthisearlythattheirarmsrustledinthewhitesuitswhentheymoved,likepaperwings.Iacteddeaftothemlaughingatme,likeIdidn’tevenknow,butwhentheystuckabroomoutformetodotheirworkupthehall,Iturnedaroundandwalkedbacktothedorm,tellingmyself,Thehellwiththat.Amangoin’fishingwithtwowhoresfromPortlanddon’thavetotakethatcrap.