Jack Baker was running out of ways to entertain himself. Over the past few days in the mental institution, he had met everybody on his floor and learned their stories as best he could. He had learned the history of the building in which he was staying and had discovered that there were a number of relatively famous insane individuals who had been treated there. He had become acquainted with all the security guards and orderlies in the institution's employ. He had made plans to write a book about his stay but had then discarded them, thinking it would be insensitive. He had had several sessions with a psychologist who had proclaimed him mentally sound except for having delusions of a magical place called Neverland.
At the moment he was playing a make shift version of chess with a man who kept winking at him. Their board was a wall calendar with every other square colored in, and their playing pieces ranged from coins and dried vegetables to toothbrushes and scraps of socks. A muted television was playing the news in the corner of the room, and Jack didn't pay much attention to it until something familiar caught his eye. The report showed three unusual organisms sprouting up in various parts of London. A small silver mound had emerged in the Northwest corner of Hyde Park, neon coral that moved about and shimmied had appeared in the river by the Tower Bridge, and a twisty, black and white tree stood in front of the British Museum.
"Checkmate!" His opponent yelled, plopping an eraser down next to a shriveled carrot, but Jack was staring at the television.
"I've seen those before!" He exclaimed, standing up quickly and knocking over the game pieces. "Those are from Neverland!" He waved over the orderly standing by the door. "Those are from Neverland! I told you I'm not crazy!"
One of the guards turned off the television. It was, after all, just the sort of story that would agitate the insane. But Jack kept yelling about it, elated that there was evidence of Neverland in London, and he remained elated until several more guards arrived to restrain him.