Laddie’s Magical Glowing Balls Of Colored Gas by Richard Stephenson

Laddie is a schizophrenic inmate who lives in the violent, obscene environment of a maximum security prison. Delusions swirl in his mind like white corpuscles trying to heal a wound. Laddie takes comfort in owning Magical Glowing Balls of Colored Gas. He also has long conversations with a spider. Laddie’s first person narrative is a challenge.

Near the end of his sentence for assault, Laddie allows a therapist named Richard to speak to him once a week. Richard uses Dr. Hyman Spotnitz’s modern psychoanalysis to treat him. Meanwhile, Chou Chou, a transvestite, is the only inmate who befriends Laddie. Dr. Silladakarra tries an experimental psychotropic on Chou Chou. With dignity and affection, Laddie tries to comfort the dying Chou Chou.

To no avail, Richard tries to protect Laddie from being released into society before he becomes stable enough to function. Ruggert Prison gives Laddie $90 and leaves him on a street corner in Philadelphia.