Doc: You're late, again. I have an appointment immediately after yours, so we can't run long. I'm sorry.
Joe: (standing) Well, I'm off to serenade a parking meter...
Doc: Seriously?
Joe: (sits down) No. Serenade wouldn't really make sense, anyway.
Doc: (writes on note pad) Okay. So. Last week, we left off with you feeling confident about...
Joe: About my job interview - yes.
Doc: So, how did it go?
Joe: (thought bubble: SO not hired) Not bad, actually.
Doc: Excellent. I'm encouraged. So, no trouble with the coprolalia, this time?
Joe: Well, I didn't say that, but it wasn't bad. I didn't get kicked out, and there were no cops.
Doc: So, you made it through an interview. There was never a doubt in my mind. Mazal-tov.
Joe: Um. Thanks. I didn't have half of the experience they wanted, though.
Doc: How does this whole encounter with potential authority figures leave you feeling?
Joe: This, again? 'And how do you feel about that?' Really? How do you think I feel about it? It was an interview, doc. I did better than usual, but they gave me no reason to get my hopes up, blah blah blah... Can I ask you a question, though?
Doc: And how did things go with that other issue we discussed? The guns?
Joe: (avoiding eye contact) Yeah. That. I kinda bought three more guns - two fully-automatic, and one old .38.
Doc: And?
Joe: (sighs) And nothing on me has gotten any bigger than it was before.
Doc: And how does that--
Joe: But I haven't been to the range, yet!
Doc: (writing on note pad) I see...
Joe: Listen, doc - I've been meaning to ask, and don't take this the wrong way, but...
Doc: Yes?
Joe: Well, with you over there, and me over here on this clichéed couch, we can't even see each other. We might as well do this over the phone.
Doc: No. I don't want you multitasking your way through these sessions any more than you would want me to to sit here reading, while you talk...
Joe: Wait. You're not reading, over there?
Doc: No! I'm listening, and taking notes.
Joe: Oops. Well, I'm working on my novel, on my iPad.
Doc: (turning to look) You are not!
Joe: Well, not right now, but last week, I completely rewrote chapter sixteen, about Edward meeting Callista's family at Thanksgiving...
Doc: Mr. Scott!
Joe: What? I was fully-engaged. I'm an excellent multitasker...
Doc: Understood. Okay, let's get back to an issue you brought up during our first session...
Joe: Ugh...
Doc: Tell me about Hyperion...
Joe: You mean the Dan Simmons novel?
Doc: Great book - but, no.
Joe: (repositions self several times, looks at clock) What?
Doc: Can you tell me about Hyperion?
Joe:
Doc: Are you ready to talk about Hyperion? About what happened, there?
Joe:
Doc: It's okay to say no.
Joe: No. Not yet.
Doc: That's okay.
Joe: Thank you.
Doc: Change of subject. How about the 'roid rage? How has that been, lately? You're stepping down off the prednisone, as I recall...
 |
| Hyperion, summer. |
Stay tuned, kiddies. Assuming that my math is correct (a generous assumption, to be sure), the next post is NUMBER TWO HUNDRED!! What can up with I come, to the occasion mark? Join me. Joinnnnnnn meeeeeeeeeeeeeee...
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