Free Free

"That's it.  The place I was telling you about."

"That's what?  A building.  A big white building.  Looks like a hospital.  I don't remember you saying anything about a hospital.  Is that a hospital?"

"No, it's not a hospital.  I mean maybe it is, sort of.  I'd say the people who agree to live there are sick, anyway."

"What is it?"

"Free housing.  The city runs it.  You can live there for free.  Free food, too."

"You said sick, right?  Sounds smart to me."

"Yeah.  But they sterilize you there."

"What?  You're kidding me?  Cut your tubes?"

"No.  They give you some drug that makes you sterile."

"Forever?"

"No.  After a month or so it wears off but who knows what else it does to you, right?"

"Right."

"The real sickness is just giving up like that.  Living with all those other people who've given up.  It's sick.  You can watch them at checkout time.  They walk out the door and then just turn around and wait until they can go back in again."

"You know anyone in there?"

"Oh yeah.  I know lots of people who've gone in."

"Anyone come out again?"

"I don't know.  No.  I don't think so."