Whenever he felt overpowered by real life, Martin would go to a corner of the room, lie down in foetal position with his eyes closed and pretend nothing could reach him. For instance :
Police agent — I hate to be the one to break this to you, but your whole family just died in sordid circumstances.
Martin — Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! You're not fooling me ! There's no such thing as "dying" or "family" !
Martin's girlfriend — Stop it, Martin ! You're making a fool out of yourself.
Martin — Go away. You're but a figment of my imagination, the shadow of a passer-by.
Martin's girlfriend — Then why bother answering me ?
Martin — I'm just reciting the lines of my part. We all are.
Martin's girlfriend — But do you feel my fist in your mouth ?
Martin — I do perceive the idea of pain at the periphery of my consciousness, but it has nothing to do with me.
Martin's girlfriend — A-ha ! I never used the word "pain" — you did ! So you do feel the pain after all !
Martin (in a conciliatory tone) — You got me ! From now on I'll be a more mature person. I won't dodge life's blows anymore. I know now reality is to be taken seriously.
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