What Is Believed

1

There was complete silence. In this room, the sound of a pin dropping to the floor would seem like a grand marching band. There was no lively presence in the room. Energy and enthusiasm seemed beyond aloof. With the vacationing activeness, it was clear that both men did not want to be where they were. Neither man believed that sitting in front of the plain, black table would make a difference. It was both their faults though, because both men were led to the room by their generous actions.2

Dr. Knolls took a sip from his water glass and then sat it onto the table. He leaned back in his small, cozy chair and straightened his white, medical jacket. He took a deep breath and then folded his hands together in a triangular formation, taking the time to align each finger. He glanced at the dirty, padded walls behind his patient. As Knolls' knuckles made a snapping sound, his attention immediately went back to focusing on the insane delinquent. 3

Teddy noticed the instant alertness of his doctor and smiled. He rolled his incredibly wide, blue eyes around. He puckered up his cheeks and then stuck his tongue out. A hint of slobber oozed down the right side of his bottom lip. Followed by a loud giggle, he spit some more on to the wooden, black table.4

"Stop with this ignorance!" demanded Knolls, as he broke the silence. "Why do you continue to pretend you have a condition. You mistakingly passed all the sanity tests!"5

Teddy rolled his eyes around some more. More bursts of slobber tossed their way out of his mouth. The sight could have easily been compared to a Fourth of July celebration.6

"I said to stop it, and I want you to stop it now!"7

Teddy rolled around in his seat and let out another laugh. The loud laugh echoed off the soft, padded walls. He gurgled some spit and murmured an annoyingly joyous sound.8

"Damn it. I know you aren't insane," continued Knolls. "Is this a family problem? Is this a romance problem? Does this have anything to do with all your furniture being taken away?"9

Teddy came to complete silence. The fake, childish look on his face vanished as quickly as a balloon popped. In a snap, his character had changed completely. He had been angered by something that Knolls had taunted him with.10

"Shut-t-t up," announced Teddy. He had trouble pushing the words out of his mouth with all the drool, but the angry look in his eyes convinced Knolls of what had been said.11

"Oh, so it is the furniture!" exclaimed Knolls.12

"Yes... it's t-t-the damned furniture. It all got t-taken away from me. It ruined my life..." confessed Teddy.13

An awkward silence hovered through the room. Teddy's friendly mood took a detour, and Dr. Knolls was in shock with how quickly he had gotten his patient to confess. Both men took a good moment to reflect on the statement and it wasn't long until Teddy worked up the nerve to continue.14

"... My family... t-t-they have nothing. I just got so scared. I... uhhh... I panicked. My life was in danger too. I just figured that if I stayed here in this mental hospital, that I would be f-fine."15

"So you abandoned your family?" pondered Knolls. "For stupid, selfish reasons? That's horrible. Your situation isn't even that bad!"16

Teddy began to feel guilty. He folded his hands in his lamp and lowered his head in shame. For the first time since they acquainted, he stared into Knolls' eyes. The look on Teddy's face pleaded and begged for complete forgiveness.17

Dr. Knolls cupped his water glass with his hands and slid it to the center of the table. Teddy's eyes transfered from the face to the table. What was going on?18

"Your life can be compared to this glass of water," reassured Knolls. "Filled to the the half way mark, it can either be half empty or half full. The true answer depends on how you wish to look at it."19

"It-t-t's a stupid cup," mocked Teddy.20

"It's a stupid cup. It's a stupid bit of furniture. It's a stupid decision."21

"I just don't understand," said Teddy.22

"You see your life as half empty," said the confident doctor. "Try looking at it as half full."23

Teddy wasn't comprehending this at all. He didn't understand how things weren't so bad. They couldn't get worse.24

"I'm just so confused... how can my l-life be better?" asked Teddy.25

The doctor took another deep breath. Teddy just wasn't grasping the full concept.26

"See the fact is," he started. "You are focusing too much towards the negative things. See the positive ones."27

Teddy became all ears. He was catching on.28

"See your loving family. See the happy memories you share with them. And although your house may be empty right now, see the fact that you are lucky enough to have a house. The answers to joy and pride don't come from capital. True and eternal happiness comes only from what is said to be believed."29

It took a moment for him to realize what Knolls had meant, but with these inspiring words having been said, Teddy felt the urge to stand up and shout how right his doctor was. He hugged Knolls with excitement. He had heard what was needed to make a change. He had a family to cherish, and he believed that he could make things right. As Knolls unlocked the door to the padded room, Teddy marched on out to not only a hallway, but the hallway that led to a new beginning.30