Norman didn't like The City. Or maybe it was Mother who didn't like The City. There were days when it was getting harder and harder for Norman to tell the difference. Mother was getting stronger. That's why he'd hidden himself up in his house. He was afraid of what Mother might do if he left. He'd even let the motel fall to the wayside a bit, which was very unlike him. He didn't know if he had any customers anymore. He might have. But if he did, he hadn't collected any rent in weeks. Or was it months now? Oh he was just getting so confused. And it was all The City's fault. None of this would have happened if he were still at the institution.
It was bad. Very bad.
But not even Norman could hide himself forever. Which was how he found himself at the pizza joint. It hadn't been his intention to go to a pizza place. He hadn't been to one in years. Not since he was a child. (And even then he had to sneak out to go -- Of course, Mother had caught him coming home late and that had ended badly.) No, it definitely wasn't his plan to get pizza. Or anything to eat for that matter. But when he came down the hill from the motel, the pizza place was the first thing he saw. Thanks to the ever-changing blocks and buildings in The City. That was one interesting thing about his new home. Everywhere he went there was something new to see.
"Could I p-please get one slice of p-p-pepperoni. And a glass of m-milk."
Norman glanced over at the woman searching her purse.
"I can get that for you, m-mmiss. I have change to spare."
Quite literally he did, as he placed a bunch of dollar bills, dimes, nickels, and pennies on the counter to pay for his order. And hers, if she'd let him.