Sometimes in life the foundation upon which one stands will give a tilt, and everything one has previously believed and held dear will begin sliding about, and suddenly all things will seem strange and new.

This happens to me now.

In truth, I am filled with wonder.

Fresh air is constantly coming to us via Ventilation Units 1 through 26, and fresh water via our various Spigots, and food via the narrow Food Chutes that feed into our many Kitchens, and electric power, albeit sporadically, via those big green wires up there, bolted into the ceiling. None of that crap can be cheap, right? Hence there must be someone up there who still cares about us?

But what kind of caring is that? To drop folks in a hole, plug said hole up?

Oddly, it is in this moment that I realize I am in love.

Because, asking myself with whom I might share these revelations (to whom I wish to turn, in this, my hour of need), I realize it is: Amy.

Amy and only Amy.

Who, per the clock on the side of the Spout, is likely at Dinner, in Dining.

Looking for Amy as I enter, stuck behind a group from wild day out west, I feel like going, “Oh, Jimbo, stop saying ‘I reckon,’ ” as Jimbo, whose real name is Jim but who insists on westifying it even while on Break, stands there chewing a stir stick as if it were a piece of hay or whatnot, to look, I guess, more west?

The time for roles is done, Jimbo.

No Amy.

Why can’t these cowpokes step aside? I somewhat crossly muse. Then take a seat, as far away from them as I can get.

Honestly, surprisingly, I find myself filled with hope. What new life might we now begin, free of the prospect of ever being Visited? Who might we become, sans roles? Toward what more generous purpose might we direct our considerable, until-now-misspent energies?

All these questions, I feel eager to explore with Amy.

Only too bad.

The Monitors of our Monitors are Shirley and Kiko: Shirley in the day and Kiko in the night.

It is thus rare to see Shirley and Kiko together in the same place.

Yet here they are now, ambling side by side into Dining.

Headed straight for me.

“Shirley tells me that wasn’t much of a kick you gave Rolph the other day,” Kiko says, spinning around a chair to sit in it backward.

While Shirley stays sternly standing.

“More of a nudge,” Shirley says. “With the foot.”

What a strange set of feelings I am feeling.

“Can me and Kiko buy you a Coke?” Shirley says, and offers me ten tokens.

“Have a Coke, collect your wits,” says Kiko. “You have always been, so far, fairly solid.”