Truth:Chapter 8

Truth: Chapter 8
I was back in the therapy office again, twice a week, Monday and Thursday, 2 pm for half an hour.
This session is about “my past” Drivel.
“Christina, what were you like as a child?”
“Normally, I would say ask my parents, but seeing as they are all dead…”
He was struggling not to laugh.
“What, in your perspective, were you like as a child?”
“Odd.” I replied.
“How so?”
“I wasn’t into dolls, or tea parties like my sister, and I didn’t want to play with the boys either. I read, watch AMC with my mother and learned about politics from my father. “
“So, do you think you weren’t like other girls?”
“There is no thinking about it. I know I wasn’t. “
“Ah, I see. What’s your relationship with your sister?”
If he asked me this when I was a teenager, it would take up the whole session- how much I hated her, why she was such a bitch etc.
“We don’t get along.”
“Why is that?”
Because she’s a vindictive bitch.
“We don’t agree on things.”
“I see. What about your cousins? There are several your age; how do you get along with them?”
They, too, are bitches.
“I never saw them much.”
“Yes- and how is…”
*
“That session was brutal!” I complained to Colin on our way home.
“If you didn’t-“
“Try to off myself like some silly twat- I wouldn’t have to go! I know, I know!”
I muttered mean things about Colin, which he heard, because he always hears them.
He sighed.”Christina, darling, insulting me under your breath won’t change the fact that you have to go to therapy, or take your medicine- you’re bipolar.” He shook his finger “Not uh, uh, and uh. You know you are- you had episodes in the past.”
I blinked
“Honey, there is nothing wrong with being bipolar- I still love you. Who cares if your bitch sister Serena thinks you’re crazy? You know your parents loved you more, right? They gave you 80% of everything- and her 20? “
We laughed bitterly at this.
“That’s because we got her at the zoo.”
“She is, after all, proof evolution is true.” Colin said overly academic like
“That and her beastly attitude make her…”
It went on like that until the way home.
To my surprise, Tony was there with his boy, Timmy.
“Hi, Timmy!” I said, trying to be cheerful.
I hate children, and Colin knows this, hence him trying not to laugh.
“Sorry, Christina, I was just stopping by and thought I would say hello! Say hello, Timmy!”
Timmy raised his stubby arms and waved
He looked like a miniature seal.
“Would you like to come in for coffee?” Colin asked.
Tony looked at how well-dressed Colin was- and did that “manly man judging stare” me and Colin coined
It’s basically when an ignorant, straight man looks at a queer and knows he’s gay- and doesn’t accept it.
Tony, surprisingly, wasn’t one of those people (ha, got you!)
“I know you, man. You went out with my cousin, Ryan.” Tony said and shook Colin’s hand “He was such an ass for breaking up with you like that- the whole family thought so. You were good to him.”

“Christina, how are you today? Are your meds working?”
Other than the fact, it makes me feel like a loon taking them- yes, it does.
“Yeah, it does.” I said.
He flipped a sheet on his profile of me (no doubt saying shrink like things like “patient seems nervous today; patient continuously longing for the past)
“How is Tom?”
“He’s fine, I guess.”
“You talk about him, often.”
“He’s important to me.”I coughed. “He’s one of my best friends.”
“From the way you describe your relationship, you guys seem more than friends. It’s very unlike the relationship between you and Colin.”
“Well,” I started, growing annoyed.”Colin is a gay male. Of course, there are going to be differences. “
“I see.”
*
“Colin! I hate this man! Get me another shrink now!” I growled putting on my seatbelt.
“Christina, he’s the best in the state.”
“He’s an asshole.”
“Yes, but-“
“It’s my money- my brain he’s picking at Colin!” I took a deep breath.”Can you please?”
He looked at me for a moment, and nodded.
*
“Welcome. I’m Dr.Maynes. I see you were practiced by Dr. Whitts, asshole that he is, probably made you even crazier. Now, now. CRAZY is not a bad word! You know that feminist movement in the 90s, right? Oh, too young? Yes, we took back the words “cunt, bitch, whore, CRAZY” Don’t take it as an insult; don’t take it as a compliment either- just acknowledge it. Oh, cute shirt by the way, girl. I would buy the same thing myself, if I wasn’t so fat” at this Dr. Maynes laughed.
She’s crazy, I thought. I like her.
“Now, one thing I don’t like about therapy is the lack of conversation- the only way I can really help you help yourself, is by truly knowing you. There is what my colleagues call “domineering conversation therapy” sessions. Basically, it’s about having a conversation, of your choice, and you talking it out, with me putting input, what I think, what’s good for your mental health. It works best with my patients because instead of the traditional therapy, you go further into the topics; I egged it on with my responses. And unlike traditional therapy, I give you details about my life. My colleagues and I always thought it was hypocritical to let the patient know nothing. Does this sound good for you?”
“Wow. Yes! That sounds wonderful! Of course.”
“Okay, Christina. Tell me about yourself. And when I say that- I mean a biography.” She laughed and I laughed with her.
“I’m Christina Watson, 19. As you read in my file, my parents died. My best friends are Colin, who is gay and living in my house; and Tom who is not gay. I read, drink too much coffee, I’m anal retentive, too blunt…and hate children.”
Dr. Maynes laughed again
“I’m Shawna Maynes, old. My parents died as well. My best fried is gay, Dom, I have a loving girlfriend Katrina, and live Downtown. I like to read, and I prefer tea over coffee. I’m unorganized; my assistant keeps everything in check. I love children.”
*
“That was great- Tony? Why are you here?”
Tony smiled, “Colin saw me and Timmy walking and invited us to have dinner. Do you mind?”
“No, not at all.” I looked at Colin confusedly. He merely shrugged in reply.
“No offence, Tony, but you are going to have to sit in the back.” Colin said.
“Why- oh.” He stopped when he caught me throwing his belongings on the floor.
I wasn’t being immature, I wasn’t. I was just helping get his stuff out of the car, FASTER.
“Thank you.” I smiled at him sweetly, which I apparently pulled off because he smiled back.
Colin put in his Broadway musical CD, and the 45 minute ride home was spent singing show tunes.
Hmmn, I don’t know any straight man that likes show tunes. Oh. Ooh.

*
“My turn.” Tom said.
“Go for it.”
“Why do you never eat anything- you’re getting thinner every time I see you.” He looked like he was struggling, and since I was in a bad mood, I made him dig deeper “You’re still beautiful, but you’re all skin and bones. Chris, what’s going on? You can tell Colin, but not me?”
I paused.
“I just don’t get that hungry is all, and I tell you everything I tell Colin.”
He raised an eyebrow.”Really- then why-“
“Ah,” I interrupted “It’s my turn. Why haven’t you gone out with anyone?”
*
“Why haven’t you gone out with anyone?” Christina asked.
Maybe, it’s because your crazy self takes up all my time? I thought, but I knew it was something deeper than that.
“I just haven’t found the right one is all.” I coughed. “My turn.”
“Go on.”
“Why haven’t you gone out with anyone?”
“Oh, you didn’t hear? Greg asked me out and I said yes!” she gushed.
“What? “ I sputtered “You can’t stand him! Ms. “He’s annoying, vapid, perverted- you’re laughing.”
“Honestly, Tom- me and Greg Pagusti?” She laughed again.
I remember what Greg said that night.”She’s not like other girls- like magic.”
“I gotta go.” I said and rushed out of Coffee Blues



*
“Mhm, great time last night. Ready again?”
I looked at the hot blonde, disgusted. I went to another frat party, and she threw herself at me; and like a dog I grabbed the bone.
“Get out.” I pointed to the door.
“Oh, I forgot.” The blonde said snidely “You’re Watson’s girl. The odd girl that everyone loves- whatever. She’s too good for you, you know? She has the two hottest guys, who cares if they are fags, at her beck and call- what does she need you for?”
“Fuck you.”
I pushed her out the door.
“You’re right.” I mumbled, and got into the shower.
*
“COLIN, YOU ASSHOLE! YOU USED ALL MY COLD CREAM!” I yelled from my bathroom
“What, dear?” he said wiping his hands on his apron.
“Don’t give me that Domestic Man look! I know how devious you are- first, you take all the hot water in the shower, then my cold cream? It was $70!”
“You’re rich!”
“That’s not the point!”
“It’s- “the phone rang “It’s for you,” he covered his mouth “Tom. He sounds drunk! “
I grabbed the phone from Colin. “Tom?”
“Christina. We” he slurred on the phone “we need to talk. Coffee blues tomorrow?”
“Okay. 11?”
“That’s fine.”
I clicked the phone and hung up.
“That was strange.”
*
“Christina, it looks like you haven’t been getting much sleep? Is that true?”
Great, Dr. Maynes is putting on her Concerned Therapist Face.
“I’ve been watching infomercials.”
“Ah, you do that often?” she asked politely.
Great, I get caught taking a few more pills and its back to “treat Christina like she’s crazy”
I miss fun Dr.Maynes.
“It helps me go to sleep.” I said.
“I see. Do you have anything on your mind?”
Other than the fact that I’m slowly losing it?
“No.”
“Okay. Let’s discuss your medicine.”
*
Grandma Cheryl was here for some “emergency meeting” about me. So, were Tony (Colin’s boyfriend, who we have all grown close to) and Tom.
“She’s not eating.” Tom said.
“She doesn’t sleep.” Colin added
Great, now they are ganging up on me.
I heard Timmy cry in the next room. I went to calm him now.
“Shah, Timmy. It’s okay. I know how you feel. You have all these words you want to say, but you can’t express yourself- it just brims up to the top and all you want to do is cry. But, instead of crying you hold it in, and in and in and-“I looked at the doorway, and saw Tom.
It was funny how he was always there right when I least expected him.