“Find your happy place”1
My attention pulled away from the window and my realistic daydream of happiness, and I gazed at the therapist. She sat in front of me in her brown tweed suit looking professional. Her hair a honey chestnut color was pulled tight behind her head in a bun that made her look much older than she was. I figured the impression that Kathy Rindrel , the “Just call me Kate” type was trying for was the “I’m wise and wearing a bun makes me look so”. She failed in my opinion to look either wise or professional, instead appearing frumpy and disillusioned. Because I was of that opinion, her "wisdom" didn’t carry much weight with me, especially not to the tune of $130 an hour. Thank goodness for psycho insurance to cover it. My thoughts turned to money and my subsequent lack thereof. But before my thoughts could bring me sprialing down into depression over this, I focused back on the present and looked at "just call me Kate"2
“What” I said, still half dazed.3
“Find your happy place.“ She smiled her sugar cane smile. 4
I very nearly got a toothache just watching her. She MUST have been a cheerleader in school I thought to myself. That smile is not normal… it’s perfectly crafted. I could suddenly see “just call me Kate” doing high kicks with her hair in her bun kicking just high enough to give folks an idea of the luscious body underneath that brown and gold uniform. All the while she shouted her cheer, “Just call me Kate, cuz it’s safe and I can relate! Wooo hooo!” Her pom poms of gold and brown flew up in the air and just as they came down I was pulled away from my vision again watching her as she spoke.5
“You know, the place where you can be you. Where the child in you feels safe”. She used her hands in the air drawing a line as if bottoming lining it for me. I chuckled as I thought, as if that emphasis was to be the beacon of inspiration for me. Ooh yes, that’s it I feel safe! S A F E. My mind plays such tricks on me. Even now I can see her at the podium winning some prestigious Pshyo-therpist mumbo jumbo award and presenting her speech amid a crowd of Prozac zombies. 6
“And… I just want to say” she wipes a tear from her eye as she grabs the trophy again “ I’m so glad that people can be safe because of psychology!” She holds the trophy in the air and it shimmers, a mirror of silver “Thank YOU so much!”. The crowd goes wild and jumps practically out of their chairs tipping them over even in their haste to applaud the wonders of modern psychology.7
Back in reality, I sighed and watched my index finger rub against my thumb as if dribbling spice into a pot of bubbling boiling brew. 8
“Well, surely you have a safe place?” She leaned forward on the couch clutching the clipboard to her chest intently showing me that I was indeed the center of her focus.9
My bored mind played tricks on me again and in my mind the “just call me Kate” psychologist was frozen and in my right hand was a black marker. With precise strokes somehow my arm stretched towards her, and my sigh of boredom turned into a sigh of satisfaction when a perfectly drawn mustache appeared on her milky upper lip. Ha! I thought, now we’ll call you the psychologist of penzanse, who wants to be a Pirate of Penzanse!10
I couldn’t help but smile a bit at this. I swallowed hard as I tried to stifle a giggle while my eyes met hers, back in the present. 11
“You do! Don’t you!” mistaking my giggle for a secret place I must have that I just haven't shared with anyone, she clapped her hands together smiling her plastic perfection. “Well aright, then! Tell me about it. I want to know all about the safe place you go.”12
God, I wanted to wipe that smug look on her face away. The look that says “I’ve earned the title Psychologist! Another has seen the light!”. Instead I just stared at her for a second, formulating my story. 13
Now it was my turn to lean forward. My heavy frame of over 250 pounds shifted on the couch so I could swing my leg under me, and balance myself with my weight. I fiddled with a stray hair that had come out of the ponytail I kept my long curly brown hair tightly restrained in and then adjusted my wire rim glasses back on their nose. 14
My mind wandered again and I could see myself in this setting. In this supposed safe haven of emotional instability. I am here because, well because I’m losing my mind. At least that's what "Just call me Kate" thinks. Inwardly I chuckled at the thought. 15
So here I sat in my black sweat pants and black turtleneck, with my black jacket over it. I had dressed appropriately for the winter’s cold that’s for sure. But I don’t mind admitting that the bra I wore was just a bit too tight and was REALLY irritating me. I fidgeted with it a bit, adjusting it, not caring that I was in public until I was comfortable again. 16
“Well actually…” I looked at the brown leather couch I sat on, presented nicely against the warm gold carpet as I thought of my story. This room I thought, my mind again wandering, would have been perfect for Mr. Brady in the 70’s. All we need is some orange! Why, he could have put together a MASTERPIECE in this very room alone. I smiled again and noted that “just call me Kate” had adjusted herself as well in her brown leather office chair. The plush material made a soft noise as she settled her petite frame against the high back drawing me back to the present. She smiled at me telling me it was safe to continue. My mind went over countless stories, each ready to be told. Each safe place a wonderment of imagination. Which would it be? The glass castle? Or the Prism prison of light? The lushly dark forest complete with bubbling brook? Or perhaps the dark stone fortress with hidden pathways, rich with history? Where would I take “Just call me Kate” so she could see the realistic fiction that I lived in… my so-called “Life”.17
To be continued…?18
©SKW19
Author notes
what do you think? worth anything? let me know... thanks 
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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I really enjoyed this! You have definitely pegged my own psychologist. She decided it was necessary to finally change her hair style after a gazillion years, and she was so proud that all she could do was play with it after I complimented her on it. Rule number one: never compliment your therapist on her new hair style. At least it wasn't in a bun.
This is really good. It held my attention throughout the entire story, and I believe that you have an excellent start to add to. I do hope you'll let me know when you write the next part. I would love to read it. Thank you for entering this is my contest. Hugs, Patricia -
Lol, this was very well written, I was actually laughing out loud at the 'And… I just want to say” she wipes a tear from her eye as she grabs the trophy again “ I’m so glad that people can be safe because of psychology!”' part - could just picture it, and its such a mockery of all award ceremonies like that, some of which are such bull anyway ...
nice job, best of luck in the contest
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you have a great way with words, though I think you went just a tad bit too far with envisioning the psychiatrists as a cheerleader...i think you didn't really need the 'thank you for this trophy'-part. but otherwise its bloody fantastic i wish i could write like you! keep up the awesome work and get a sequel happening soon!
-quinn -
Very, very prettiful. I liked how.. i dont know how to describe it.. but somehow, you made the story REALLY nice. I sat reading it and thought, wow, this is really descriptive. So congrats on grabbing my attention. I liked all the ramblings that wnet on in the other persons head... but I have to say, that it really conveys someone who would have mental problems.. maybe mild schizphrenia. I'm schizotypal which is borderlind schizophrenia, but ya... its about right. Nice job.
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nice end and awesome poem!!!!!! i love it and i love the way you write. it is so kewl!!!!!!good job!god job! if i could i would give you points but i cant i dont have anyone applaud things
but hey a nice comment. huh? -
Beautiful and i like the ending but I almost think it came too abruptly. it's like the middle bits should be fleshed out so that its longer but ends EXACTLY the same way and with the same... abruptness... does that make sense? There's a certain yearning for something more when you read it and i dont think it has to do with the enignmatic ending - its something in the middle thats misssing
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heh heh...crazy is fun.
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this is great very original and theres nothing bad i can say about it. write more please
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..I wish i could write like you, i suck with story's ;-;
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Love it!! This is great, funny and yet serious! Good job!
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This was fantastic.
Now that you've given us the beginning, you must give an end too. That's a compulsion.
Wow this is SO similar to the feeling I get when I'm forced to visit a psychologist. I sit there, brooding, and thinking to myself "Yeah asshole, you think I'm abnormal, you think I can be 'cured', you're an older generation of the same people whom I LOATHE - and you think you can understand me? Huh, I can see your whole pathetic past through those fat specs. You can't see MY past in nine lives. And look who's the 'psychologist'!"
I'd really love to know what happens to the bimbo psychologist (expecting a pathetic ending, obviously). Can you please just send me an IM when you write the next part?
Cheers and hope,
Mandy -
ahh! u cant stop. thats dirty. no stopping. go. write. more. now. thats not cool. im into it now, and u stopped. very, very uncool. if u dew wirte more, let me know, please! ill catch u lata. great write!
~mikey
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You've got a fantastic way with words, normally i'm not too bothered about stories but as i'd clicked and spent your points i thought it was only fair to have a look and i'm glad i did, this could make a fantastic introduction to a book, you really should take the time to right one, itd be a graet idea, anyway great work
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pretty good..but it seemed like it ended too soon, it was detailed, but i think it could have been more detailed...but good job
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not bad
"I fathomed" at the beginning threw me as much as the bun threw you. I'd change that word asap. Otherwise, this isn't bad. I'm curious as to what prompted it. -
Well, then.. thank you for making everyone looks like idiots!! I am just kidding. This piece is FANTASTIC... Holy hell you can write, not that I didn't already know that. This is passionate, impression, powerful, and completely original. No cliche lines of dialogue, or story frames. No cookie cutters for you.. Well done!!!
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This was fucking AMAZING!!! I loved this!! So original! You don't really even need to keep going, the enigmatic ending was awesome!! You should take out the "to be continued...?"
Awesome descriptions:
"Back in reality, I sighed and watched my index finger rub against my thumb as if dribbling spice into a pot of bubbling boiling brew. "
That's my favorite. So descriptive and original and simple!
"Ha! I thought, now we’ll call you the psychologist of penzanse, who wants to be a Pirate of Penzanse!"
Fuckin A!! Pirates of Penzanse is an awesome show to see. I saw it performed on a schooner on the sea. It was so cool. MAJOR props for that reference.
Loved this!!
MaTT -
I need more. Interesting start. Keep working on it.
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