/tags/padded/Recent content in Padded on Gromet's Plaza ArchiveHugoen-usSun, 06 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000/stories/2021/06/06/institute-for-complete-rubber-immersion/Sun, 06 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000/stories/2021/06/06/institute-for-complete-rubber-immersion/<p>Continues from <a href="institute_for_complete_rubber_immersion13.html">chapter 28</a></p> <h3 id="29">29</h3> <p>It&rsquo;s been perhaps three months since that day. Untold weeks on Level 8 followed by the return to my beloved &rsquo;normal&rsquo; life at the ICRI. The first night after my release was particularly poignant, with an emotional welcome home from our Matron, the Warden of Sublevel 2. We both had a good cry as her big white rubber arms squeezed me as though to never let me leave again. I felt almost like the prodigal daughter although of course we both knew that I had taken no initiative in my departure. I could, in hindsight, have hastened my return but we all need to learn our lessons at our own pace. I guess I&rsquo;m kind of slow.</p>