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〃Wasted effort。 When a cat doesn't want to be found； it won't be found。 Besides； he'll e back by dinnertime： I'll keep him in all night； and take him to the vet's in the morning。〃 Grace looked at the mess on the easy chair； grimaced； and shook her head。 〃This isn't like my Ari；〃 she said worriedly。 〃It's just not like him at all。〃
***
The number on the open door was 316。
Hesitantly； Carol stepped into the white and blue hospital room and stopped just past the threshold。 The place smelled vaguely of Lysol。
The girl was sitting up in the bed nearest the window； her face averted from the door； staring out at the twilight…shrouded hospital grounds。 She turned her head when she realized she was no longer alone； and when she looked at Carol there was no recognition in her blue…gray eyes。
〃May I e in？〃 Carol asked。
〃Sure。〃
Carol went to the foot of the bed。 〃How are you feeling？〃
〃Okay。〃
〃With all the scrapes and cuts and bruises； it must be hard to get fortable。〃
〃Gee； I'm not banged up all that bad。 I'm just a little sore。 It's nothing that's going to kill me。 Everyone's so nice； you're all making too much of a fuss about me。〃
〃How's your head feel？〃
〃I had a headache when I first came to； but it's been gone for hours。〃
〃Double vision？〃
〃Nothing like that；〃 the girl said。 A strand of golden hair slipped from behind her ear and fell across her cheek； she tucked it back in place。 〃Are you a doctor？〃
〃Yes；〃 Carol said。 〃My name's Carol Tracy。〃
〃You can call me Jane。 That's the name on my chart。 Jane Doe。 I guess it's as good as any。 It might even turn out to be a lot nicer than my real name。 Maybe I'm actually Zelda or Myrtle or something like that。〃 She had a lovely smile。 〃You're the umpteenth doctor who's been in to see me。 How many do I have； anyway？〃
〃I'm not one of yours；〃 Carol said。 〃I'm here because 。。。 well。 。 。 it was my car you stepped in front of。〃
〃Oh。 Hey； gee； I'm awfully sorry。 1 hope there wasn't a lot of damage。〃
Surprised by the girl's statement and by the genuine look of concern on her face； Carol laughed。 〃For heaven's sake； honey； don't worry about my car。 it's your health that's important； not the VW。 And I'm the one who should be apologizing。 I feel terrible about this。〃
〃You shouldn't；〃 the girl said。 〃I still have all my teeth； and none of my bones are broken； and Dr。 Hannaport says the boys will still be interested in me。〃 She grinned self…consciously。
〃He's certainly right about the boys；〃 Carol said。
〃You're a very pretty girl。〃
The grin became a shy smile； and the girl looked down at the covers on her lap； blushing。
Carol said； 〃I was hoping I'd find you here with your folks。〃
The girl tried to maintain a cheerful facade； but when she looked up； fear and doubt showed through the mask。 〃I guess they haven't filed a missing…persons report yet。 But it's only a matter of time。〃
〃Have you remembered anything at all about your past？〃
〃Not yet。 But I will。〃 She straightened the collar of her hospital gown and smoothed the covers over her lap as she talked。 〃Dr。 Hannaport says everything'll probably e back to me if I just don't push too hard at remembering。 He says I'm lucky I don't have global amnesia。 That's when you even forget how to read and write。 I'm not that bad off！ Heck； no。 Boy； wouldn't that be something？ What if I had to learn to read； write； add； subtract； multiply； divide； and spell all over again？ What a bore！〃 She finished smoothing her covers and looked up again。 〃Anyway； I'll most likely have my memory back in a day or two。；；
〃I'm sure you will；〃 Carol said； though she wasn't sure at all。 〃Is there anything you need？〃
〃No。 They supply everything。 Even tiny tubes of toothpaste。〃
〃What about books； magazines？〃
The girl sighed。 〃I was bored out of my skull this afternoon。 You think they might keep a pile of old magazines for the patients？〃
〃Probably。 What do you like to read？〃
〃Everything。 I love to read； I remember that much。 But I can't remember the titles of any books or magazines。 This amnesia sure is funny； isn't it？〃
〃Hilarious；〃 Carol said。 〃Sit tight。 I'll be right back。〃
At the nurses' station at the end of the hail； she explained who she was and arranged to rent a small television set for Jane Doe's room。 An orderly promised to hook it up right away。
The chief RN on duty…a stocky； gray…haired woman who wore her glasses on a chain around her neck…said； 〃She's such a sweet girl。 She's charmed everyone。 Hasn't plained or uttered a cross word to a soul。 There aren't many teenagers with her posure。〃
Carol took the elevator down to the ground…floor lobby and went to the newsstand。 She bought a Hershey bar； an Almond Joy； and six magazines that looked as if they would appeal to a young girl。 By the time she got back to room 316； the orderly had just finished installing the TV。
〃You shouldn't have done all this；〃 the girl said。
〃When my parents show up； I'll make sure they pay you back。〃
〃I won't accept a dime；〃 Carol said。
〃But…〃
〃No buts。〃
〃I don't need to be pampered。 I'm fine。 Really。 If you…〃
〃I'm not pampering you； honey。 Just think of the magazines and the television as forms of therapy。 In fact； they might be precisely the tools you need to break through this amnesia。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Well； if you watch enough television； you might see a show you remember seeing before。 That might spark a sort of chain reaction of memories。〃
〃You think so？〃
〃It's better than just sitting and staring at the walls or out the window。 Nothing in this place is going to spark a memory because none of it is related to your past。 But there's a chance the TV will do the trick。〃
The girl picked up the remote…control device that the orderly had given her； and she switched on the television set。 A popular situation edy was on。
〃Familiar？〃 Carol asked。
The girl shook her head： no。 Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes。
〃Hey； don't get upset；〃 Carol said。 〃It would be amazing if you remembered the first thing you saw。 It's bound to take time。〃
She nodded and bit her lip； trying not to cry。
Carol moved close； took the girl's hand； it was cool。
〃Will you e back tomorrow？〃 Jane asked shakily。
〃Of course I will。〃
〃I mean； if it's not out of your way。〃
〃It's no trouble at all。〃 〃Sometimes。。 。〃
〃What？〃
The girl shuddered。 〃Sometimes I'm so afraid。〃
〃Don't be afraid； honey。 Please don't。 It'll all work out。 You'll see。 You're going to be back on the track in no time；〃 Carol said； wishing she could think of something more reassuring than those few hollow platitudes。 But she knew her inadequate response was occasioned by her own nagging doubts。
The girl pulled a tissue out of the Kleenex dispenser that was built into the side of the tall metal nightstand。 She blew her nose； used another tissue to daub at her eyes。 She had slumped down in the bed； now she sat up straight； lifted her chin； squared her slender shoulders； and readjusted her covers。 When she looked up at Carol； she was smiling again。 〃Sorry；〃 she said。 〃I don't know what got into me。 Being a crybaby isn't going to solve anything。 Anyway； you're right。 My folks wil