Robbie can't believe where Rick put all the food he cooked for him. He has eaten so much that he thinks he will get sick. When he finally slows down he does so to take a long draw on a tall glass of milk.
"Papa, don't they feed him in there?" Vanessa asks.
"You'd think he never ate a thing, but I've seen him eat there. He usually went to the rec room and ate there with the other patients."
Robbie watches as Rick sets the now empty milk glass on the kitchen table. He picks up the pen and starts to write.
"Robbie, we need to make a trip to the bank. I need to make a very large withdrawal. I am going to do something for you and I need you not to refuse. Deal?"
Robbie reads the note and asked Rick:
"Rick, what am I agreeing to?"
"Robbie, you helped me get out of that place so now I will return your kindness. So don't even think about refusing."
"Okay Rick, deal!" However, Robbie has his doubts.
They get ready for the trip to the bank. Rick needs Robbie to do anything bank related because of his required signature on all the documents that need to be signed. Rick had no personal belongings at all. When Robbie pulled him out of that quacks office all he had was the crumpled shirt on his back and his denim pants. After their trip to the bank, it was on to a good clothing store.
Waiting in line all Rick could do was observe everything around him. To him everything was different. When he was admitted it was a different time then. Almost a quarter of a century can change everything that you thought you knew. He was writing up a frenzy.
"Robbie, what's that small machine out in the lobby?" Rick wrote to him.
"Rick that's an ATM."
"ATM?" Rick questioned.
"A.T.M. It's an acronym for Automated Teller Machine. It's there so that you can have access to your account even when the bank is closed."
"Oh. So why do we need to come inside? Why can't we get cash through the ATM?"
"Well first, we are withdrawing a very large amount from your account. I can assure you that the ATM only has a limited amount of cash in the machine. And all you would get would be twenty dollar bills. Plus, I'd feel safer if we withdrew just enough cash to get what you wanted to do and ask for the balance in traveler checks or maybe a certified check."
'Okay, whatever you think is best."
They both step up to the teller when they are called. The teller, Lois gives them a smile and asks what she can do for them today.
"Hi Lois, we need to make a large withdrawal."
Robbie hands the Lois the withdrawal slip and her eyes go wide at the amount. She pulls the account information up on the computer screen and her eyes go wide once more. Typing away for short time she turns to them and says:
"If you'll excuse me I am going to need to speak with the bank manager."
She leaves them standing there and then she returns to the counter. The manager walks up behind them while they are waiting in the line.
"Mr. Rodgers, Mr. Labbe can you please follow me?"
They both comply and the manager brings them to his desk.
"Mr. Rodgers I understand that you want to make a very large withdrawal."
Rick shakes his head up and down.
"Well okay then just fill out this form, have Mr. Labbe sign it in my presence, present a form of identification and then I'll go to the vault to get the cash you need. The traveler checks can be obtained at the counter. I'll need about fifteen minutes to count and prepare the cash. There's coffee and bottled water over there while your wait."
The manager heads to the vault and counts out fifty thousand dollars in hundreds. He then asks the teller Lois to print up 40 travelers checks with a face value of $2500.00 each. She gets to work and within ten minutes the manager returns with the cash. He waits for Lois to come over with the checks and he explains the process.
"Mr. Rodgers here is the cash you requested. The traveler checks are $2500.00 each in value. If they're lost, you can report it and get your money back provided you keep the receipt with the serial numbers listed on it. There is also a ten-dollar fee associated with their issue. So the total withdrawal from your account today will be in the amount of One hundred fifty thousand four hundred dollars."
Rick nods and then he signs the slip. Passing it over to Robbie he does the same and the manager hands him the cash and checks.
"Mr. Rodgers, it's been a pleasure to serve you today. Please don't hesitate to consider us for your financial needs in the future." The manager tells him. Rick gets up and leaves the lobby. Robbie is held back by the manager with a gentle tug on his arm and he asks him:
"Mr. Labbe, can Mr. Rodgers speak?"
Deciding to have a little fun he tells the manager:
"Sir, while I'm not at liberty to tell you the whole story, Mr. Rodgers has been in an institution for the last twenty-five years. At first, he was a screamer and after about a year of him screaming at the top of his lungs while he was awake, the staff decided to cut his vocal chords to quiet him."
The manager just looks at Robbie with a shocked look. He shakes his head and Robbie turns away not being able to hide his smile.
They are in a store in mid-town Manhattan because the selection for Rick's size here was more accommodating than at other men's stores. They walked into Brooks Brothers for a nice suit, shirt, shoes and accessories. Finding what he liked, he tried on a suit made adjustments for alterations and it would be ready in two days. Then they caught a cab and went to H&M. Rick bought everyday clothes there. Jeans, short and long sleeved shirts, an outer coat, and underwear and socks. Rick was like a kid in a candy shop. He insisted to show Robbie everything he was going to buy. He was in and out of the men's changing room for at least seven changes showing off every possible combination of pants and shirts. Robbie just sat in the chair outside of the changing room trying hard not to laugh at his antics.
Rick was so happy to be trying on clothes that actually had style and color. He was just about to walk out and show Robbie another ensemble when his head started to pound. He had trouble standing inside the closed-in small changing room and before he knew it he was falling head first into the door his cheek bone catching the door handle as he hit the floor in a heap.
Robbie's smile faded into a scowl wondering what had just happened. He heard Rick collapse inside the changing room and shot to his feet to get to him. He tried the door and he found that with Rick being so large and the changing room so small he was blocking the door from opening with his body.
"Help, I need help here someone?!"
Rick was out for the count. He had a gash on the side of his face where he hit the door handle. A store employee tried with Robbie to open the door. The efforts they put fourth were useless.
Rick's mind was flooded with hundreds of images. His mind sorted all of them out and before he knew it he was once again watching the scene at the cemetery play out as if he was there. This time the movie was different. It started past the point where he had previously seen. He was running towards her. Her co-workers were standing next to her about five feet away as she was reading her eulogy. He heard the snipers shot being fired and he actually felt the concussion of the air being displaced as the projectile gained speed and elevation towards her. He was still running in an attempt to catch up with the bullet as if to stop its forward trajectory. He had almost reached the podium when he felt his body become sluggish the closer he came to her. He risked a look over his shoulder to adjust his path to meet the bullets path. It was then that his movie suddenly stopped playing and he heard Robbie calling out his name.
"Rick, Rick answer me!" Robbie shouted.
Robbie heard movement inside the changing room Then he was able to move the door open a little. He spotted Rick trying to get up to rest on his knees. As he did Robbie opened the door to its fullest. He helped Rick to his feet and slowly walked him out to the seating area outside the changing room.
"It happened again, didn't it?" Robbie asked.
All Rick did was nod.
Rick asked for the pen and paper and started to write furiously.
"I was there again…. I was seeing more but not enough to get a time or date. I did notice that the visions started well past where I had been previously. I could see her reading her eulogy and the shot came from behind me this time. I was running towards her trying to block the bullets path."
"Rick we need to get back to my house and consider our next move. We need to find out where this takes place!"
Robbie and Rick collect the clothes that Rick has selected, went to the cashier and paid for his new clothes. They were in his car and soon they would be at his house.