Seeking a Refuge (35)

The two Smiths looked at each other, astonished. Stephanie’s speech had been long, especially because the girl was crying and could hardly breathe. Chris was with her though, and that helped much: his hugs and comforting words seemed to find the way straight to her heart.1

“Oh,” Mary’s whispers sounded incoherent and absurd regarding the circumstance, but she didn’t even care. Fantastical worlds, heroes and monsters with supernatural powers? Even though she had known something was wrong with her daughter, she never imagined such things. Stephanie's imagination astounded her with its perfect arguments and brilliant cause-effect links. Everything in the story she had made up was so intelligent and flawless that it frightened Mary. 2

“I think I read somewhere about a famous psychologist right here in Everett. I can’t remember his name, though I know it was funny... It meant something... He seemed quite neat and devoted to his patients,” the girl’s boyfriend informed them.3

John raised his head quickly, asking louder than necessary:4

“Brain? Dr. Gregory Brain?”5

“Yes,” Chris answered, raising a thin eyebrow. 6

“I once took him an interview,” Mr. Smith joined the discussion, glad he finally had something to talk about other than “oh-you’re-so-crazy-Stephanie”. “I gave it to Stephanie to read, but I don’t think she wants it.”7

“Look,” the teenager began to explain herself once again, “I find it extremely difficult to talk about this. That’s because, as we talk, I’m still looking in my mind for a suitable story as to why I said this, what Steve’s doing or where the others are right now. I only told you everything because Chris asked me too... I couldn’t talk to a stranger.”8

The boy rose and suggested:9

“Steph, how about talking it over... privately?”10

They went to her room slowly, like if they had hurried even a little, they would have found a huge monster or something like that inside. 11

“So I take it you want me to go?” she questioned with no other introduction, as they sat beside each other. 12

“I’d like that, yes,” his calm voice and touch gave her more confidence. “I think that a specialist’s opinion would provide new perspectives and maybe help you come up with a suitable solution. Going to a psychologist doesn’t imply you’re sick at all.”13

Stephanie walked across the room, looked in a shelf for several minutes and then came back holding an old magazine in her right hand. 14

“I think the address where I should go is here,” she murmured as Chris’s smile grew almost foolishly big. “Hmmm... Will you... accompany me? Please?”15

“Of course I will!” 16

They both looked again at the address written under the interview. And disregarding Brain’s picture which looked like he was a nerd rather than an expert, Stephanie thought that he might be able to help a little. After all he couldn’t be so well-known for nothing. 17