In the morning br at Spinoza high school br Tom Harris ate chalk br champing merrily br wouldn’t stop br until EMS br came br and carted him away br to the G Building br of Kings County Hospital br as UFT Chapter Leader br I hadda defend the guy br cause this wasn’t the first br time he did crazy things br one day br brought six African bullfrogs br to school br and set ‘em loose in class br laughed like it was br the joke of the century. br Tom Tartt the Principal br wanted him out br argued with him br for an hour br “Next time, Bernstein, br you’re sitting in his class br the rest of the term.” br At Kings County Tom lay in bed br strapped down br at least br not in a straight jacket br like before. br “Bernstein, br you old flubbergaster br save me again? ” br I stared at the man br hair flying every which way br teeth a dark brown br from endless cigarettes br left ear today seeming br lower than the right br suddenly a tiny doctor br came in br from India possibly br Sri Lanka br ‘How do you feel? ” he asked br in a clipped British accent. br Tom stared blankly at the man br who promptly punctured his skin br with a rather long needle br br br then took my arm br escorting me into the hall br “A Friend? ” he asked. br “Work with him but br he’s been here before br can you help the man? ” br “Sir, I am presently responsible br for eighteen immense br and difficult Wards br possessing 182 patients.” br I took that to mean br Frank would now sleep br and when he woke br still be br profoundly unhappy.