We filed in to group one at a time and it was obvious to everybody that no one was in the mood for Johnathan today. He wasn’t a bad guy, but the problem was that he was motivating people that didn’t necessarily want to be motivated. If it had been up to us, we would’ve preferred to stand outside and watch someone else run around on the roof. Entertainment like that doesn’t come along often, but around here a shrink of some sort is always available.
“Gentlemen, how has your day been going?” he asked, looking at Darc and myself.
“Peachy. How about you?” I said, wondering if anybody ever replied to this guy with his own questions.
“I am marvelous. Would you like to know why? I’ll tell you. Today we’re going to do some sharing. We’re going to break up in to little groups and explain to one another how we’re feeling. If we’re feeling negative emotions, I also want you to design a plan regarding how you’re going to change that negativity into positive energy. Feel free to bounce ideas off one another. This is called peer counseling and I’m sure you’re all going to enjoy it.”
Darc and I turned toward one another, thoroughly disinterested. Johnathan walked over and stood next to us.
“I’d like you two to split up. I know that you spend a lot of time together and I’d like you to experience sharing your feelings with some other folks in the group.”
“Dude, is that really necessary?” Darc asked, his voice dripping with contempt.
“Yes, it is. If we don’t make an honest effort to change our social contacts every now and then, we become creatures of mediocrity. Darc, you can share with me. Kevin, I believe Adelaide could use a partner.”
I looked over towards Adelaide. She was dressed much differently than when I had last seen her. She almost looked like someone on the outside. I smiled at her and she smiled back. Maybe I would enjoy group today. I walked over and sat down in front of her.
“Hi Kevin.”
“Hey! How ya doin?” For some reason I was much happier.
“I’m doing very well.”
“I could tell. It looks like you don’t even belong in here.”
“Well, I’m getting out today.”
“Wow! How’d you manage that?”
“Just did some time, like everyone else.” She smiled.
“Docs said you were clear, huh?”
“Yeah, they always do eventually.” She smiled again.
“What got you in here?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“I’m in here for doing the same thing you did.”
“I doubt it.”
“No, I am, really.” She smiled, laughed, and then brushed her hair out of her face. “I killed someone too.”
There went reality.
It does that around here.
“Gentlemen, how has your day been going?” he asked, looking at Darc and myself.
“Peachy. How about you?” I said, wondering if anybody ever replied to this guy with his own questions.
“I am marvelous. Would you like to know why? I’ll tell you. Today we’re going to do some sharing. We’re going to break up in to little groups and explain to one another how we’re feeling. If we’re feeling negative emotions, I also want you to design a plan regarding how you’re going to change that negativity into positive energy. Feel free to bounce ideas off one another. This is called peer counseling and I’m sure you’re all going to enjoy it.”
Darc and I turned toward one another, thoroughly disinterested. Johnathan walked over and stood next to us.
“I’d like you two to split up. I know that you spend a lot of time together and I’d like you to experience sharing your feelings with some other folks in the group.”
“Dude, is that really necessary?” Darc asked, his voice dripping with contempt.
“Yes, it is. If we don’t make an honest effort to change our social contacts every now and then, we become creatures of mediocrity. Darc, you can share with me. Kevin, I believe Adelaide could use a partner.”
I looked over towards Adelaide. She was dressed much differently than when I had last seen her. She almost looked like someone on the outside. I smiled at her and she smiled back. Maybe I would enjoy group today. I walked over and sat down in front of her.
“Hi Kevin.”
“Hey! How ya doin?” For some reason I was much happier.
“I’m doing very well.”
“I could tell. It looks like you don’t even belong in here.”
“Well, I’m getting out today.”
“Wow! How’d you manage that?”
“Just did some time, like everyone else.” She smiled.
“Docs said you were clear, huh?”
“Yeah, they always do eventually.” She smiled again.
“What got you in here?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“I’m in here for doing the same thing you did.”
“I doubt it.”
“No, I am, really.” She smiled, laughed, and then brushed her hair out of her face. “I killed someone too.”
There went reality.
It does that around here.