"spivak! I want to try something with you. I know you may not be open but at least give it a chance." He gave that award-winning smile that would put most game show hosts to shame. He pulled out a thick green sponge which had two of the dimensions of a comic book while being substantially thicker, he enthused, "Confession is good for the soul! I know you're not religious and I figured this would help you out because you'd be confessing to a friend. I mean, you believe in me dontcha?"

I had no response because my confusion had become fascination.

elmgrows motioned towards the sponge now gracing my bedroom door. "These six holes in the sponge represent things you've been suppressing for a long time. As you confess to me, the holes will disappear!" He clapped his hands, leaned foward and waited for me to say something.

The holes in the sponge started to close up before I had said anything. I pointed behind him which made him smile and vigorously nod his head. "C'mon, you can do it!"

"But there aren't any holes." and I motioned again behind him.

When elmgrows turned around there were three holes left and they were slowly healing over. "Aw, c'mon. There are three left!"

"No there aren't."

"spivak, you're holding back. I'm your pal!"

Now I was overwhelmed with a feeling that I was Picard in Chain of Command. Oh come on, you know the episode. Picard was captured by the Cardassians and this Gul was trying to make Picard see five lights when there were only four lights. elmgrows didn't notice there weren't any holes left in the sponge other than the tiny ones which make a sponge, well, a sponge.

Well this ended up being written a lot better than I had expected while I was mulling things over at work.