Deeper, yeah, I think I'm going deeper. (Irina)
Despite what appearances may have lead people to think, Pizer loved puzzles. It was true that concentrated thoughts and linear progressions were difficult for him, but actual physical puzzles had turned out to be something that he quite liked. It had started off simply enough, as an exercise recommended by Mickey to Irina and Karo. Just 25 piece puzzles, easy things to put together. But he’d actually progressed quickly, moving up to 50 pieces, and then 100. He’d slowed down at that point, the number of pieces overwhelming him a bit. But then his caretakers, his friends, had started helping and with that weight off his shoulders he was back to increasing in numbers. 250. And, now, his first 500 piece.
He was sorting through the pieces methodically, taking out the edges and setting them to the side. Sometimes, having a task like this would make him fall silent with concentration. But sometimes it actually helped to open him up. “...When does it stop snowing, here?” He knew, of course, that it did eventually stop and get warm again, but he wasn’t sure where in winter they were, or how much was left. Last year’s, to the best of his recollection, had been longer than the year before.
Near him, Buddy’s tail wagged a bit. He liked the snow, especially when Pizer didn’t need him as much and he was able to roll around and run in it. Pizer picked up one of the pieces that had a part of the artist’s signature on it, and matched it to the other, putting them together. “I should take him out the next time it gets heavy.” Full sentences -- this sort of therapy really was working. His good days had definitely started to move on a slow uptick.