Three scientists \u2014 Papaia, Banani, and Ravioli \u2014 and their assistant Igor, who work at NASAL, begin to show an interest in creationism. Their superiors, concerned, send them to a psychologist, Professor Faggioli, a shady character determined to get them fired by making them look insane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re in Professor Faggioli\u2019s office, where Ravioli is undergoing an evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, Mr. Ravioli, we were talking about your… um… problematic eating habits. You were telling me about afterschool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (nodding):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, yes… Well, when they served fish, I… I didn\u2019t want to eat it. But I knew that if I didn\u2019t, they\u2019d punish me. So… so I hid it in my backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli (taking furious notes):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interesting. Classic evasive strategy of… of the cowardly patient. Please, go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (ignoring the remark):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over time, it became a habit. Not just at school… One time, years later, at a work dinner… they served baked sea bream. Beautiful to look at, stinky to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ah, sea bream… the betrayer fish of emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (shrugging):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I… didn\u2019t know what to do. I didn\u2019t want to make a bad impression. So… I stuffed it in my lab coat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026Whole!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli (eyes wide):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In your… in your lab coat?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (looking at his hands, as if reliving the scene):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes. It was still warm. Broth was dripping into my pockets… <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026I pretended nothing was wrong all evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli (clenching his teeth, holding back a sadistic smile):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A… a brilliant strategy of… unconscious self-sabotage. Go on, please, go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (barely above a whisper):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end… after years like that… One evening I looked at them. My colleagues. Laughing, joking, passing around fish dishes… And me… I was just standing there, sweaty, with yet another mackerel hidden on me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026And… I felt… alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[A pause. Faggioli leans forward, staring intensely.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Very interesting. You’ve developed a mechanism of emotional isolation… I\u2019d say a typical case of \u201cauto-fisholation\u201d…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[He stops, realizes the slip, coughs awkwardly.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli (correcting himself):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I meant… social self-isolation, of course. A completely irrelevant lexical slip, obviously. Details, details… Let\u2019s continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Igor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli, same as always \u2014 fish in one pocket… and brain in the other!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n