It was the oddest thing, yesterday, to sit out in a courtyard with an apple and a book and the warm sunlight, and read Plato's Allegory of the Cave. I had been wanting to read it, because Digory did ("It's all in Plato!" and "What do they teach them in these schools?") but I never got around to it even though I did merf "The Republic" from somebody's Office. About a week ago I heard a student expound giddily on the Cave (he wants to teach Philosophy someday and if he ever gets over relativism I shall hand him a diploma) and that clinched it.

I worked all morning in the Lab and then, dazed, stepped out into the sunlight of the courtyard. The sort of aery gold was pressing on the stones and filling the air with such a warmth I it might have been a taste of ambrosia. Of course, Neddy Ware would just say it was going to rain. And it did, but not yet.

If I had read the Allegory before then I would have laughed at myself--coming out of my own sort of cave, with shadowy objects and prisoners chained from hand to neck and not able to move. Only the computer Lab isn't that bad.

I made a delightful munching of an Apple (haven't wanted to have solely fruit for lunch in forever) and sat in the sunlight for a still half hour. There, now you see what I do for lunch break when I don't go to sadastras' former haunt.

And now! I need to do other things than laze around the house in flannel pjs all day. Get to work! Wash the dishes, do your laundry, clean your room, study, cook things!

Must I?

Yes.

*sigh*