Short Takes

A TWELFTH STEPPER once walked into a room in an institution that housed an alcoholic. As the psychiatrist would say--he was out of contact. He had his ear flattened up against the wall to the room next door, and beckoned to his visitor. "Listen, listen," he said. The visitor flattened his ear against the wall and listened for about three minutes, finally said, "I don't hear anything. That's right, I know," said the drunk. "It's been like that all day."