"He can't, man, that's why he's the meanest animal in the world."

Neither of them laughed. Tyrone whispered to Derek, hand over his mouth, his eyes darting at Stony. "Oooh," Derek howled, slapping his knee. "You know what he said, De Coco?"

"Don't tell him, man!" Tyrone giggled.

"He say your mama a two-headed Italian kabooni."

Stony shrugged. "I didn't even know you'd met her."

They broke up, rocking back and forth in their wheelchairs like hinged rocking toys.

"I'll tell you really though." Stony sat down. "You know who's really a two-headed kabooni in my family? My brother!"

That broke them up even more.

"You think I'm kiddin'? I'll bring him in."

"When?"

Stony thought for a second. Albert was the same age as these kids. "Now! You just stay there." He sprinted down the hall to the pay phone. It felt crazy, but the idea of bringing Albert to the hospital had been nibbling at his mind for a week now. One of the many thoughts he'd been having in the last week without understanding what put them in his head.

"Ma? Is Albert there? Lissen, do me a favor ... put him in a cab and send him down here ... yeah ... yeah ... so take a minute out... I'll pay for the cab, O.K?...just put him in a cab. No, no. Just do it, O.K.? Thanks." Stony ran back to the day room. "One two-headed Italian kabooni comin' up!"

Stony met the cab at the hospital entrance. He threw the driver two bills and hustled Albert into the hospital. "C'mon, kiddo, I wancha to meet some guys."

"Doctor Harris?" Albert was bewildered at being back in a hospital, but he dug taking the cab ride by himself. He walked down the corridors like his head was on a revolving turret. He held onto Stony's hand and wasn't afraid. Stony was frightened enough for both of them. Albert had a way of saying things to people.

Derek and Tyrone looked up when Stony entered the day room with his brother in tow. The three eight-year-olds stared at each other in silence, their mood a mixture of embarrassment and curiosity. Stony wanted to say something witty about kaboonies but it didn't seem appropriate. Disengaging himself from Stony Albert sat down on a folding chair facing Derek and Tyrone.

"You De Coco's brother?" Tyrone asked.

"How come you so skinny?" Derek asked.

Albert smiled at Stony. He looked back at Derek and shrugged, his feet dangling below the seat. His eyes wandered to the stacks of games strewn over the floors and tables.

"What's your name?"

"Albert."

"Are you an Indian?"

Albert looked at Stony.

"Yeah, he's an Indian! He's my brother, right?"

"How come he don't talk?"

"Albert, talk."

"I dunno what to say." He hunched his shoulders and curled back into his chair.

"He dunno what to say."

"Do you play all these games?" Albert asked them.

"Nah, they broke," said Tyrone. "What grade you in?"