Anna's mother raised him to his feet and led him to a bedroom. Here she undressed him and prepared a bath.
At first this frightened Tony. There were no bathrooms in the house where he had lived! But somehow, he felt that this kind woman would not hurt him. He allowed her to bathe him and put him to bed.
He soon found himself tucked between clean, cool sheets. The woman was offering him something to drink. His eyes were closing. Then he was asleep.
When he awoke it was late afternoon. The window shades were drawn and the room was fairly dark.
Tony lay gazing up at the smooth, white ceiling. He felt well and strong now. He thought that he loved the mother of Anna better than anyone he had ever known. Yes, better even than Tina!
How could he have lied to Anna again? After promising himself that he would change. After that terrible dream! Oh, surely that would be his last lie! Surely!
As he lay with his thoughts, the door slowly opened. Anna peeped in. She held Tina in her arms. When she saw Tony's eyes open, she came into the room.
"I thought you would like to have Niki," she said.
She approached his bed. Tony held out his arms for the dog.
"Her name is not Niki. It is Tina," he said.