Contents of my Brain

The Therapist

"So why don't you start by telling me why you think you're here, Gina "

She had her long, brown hair pulled into a high bun on the top of her head. "She" being, Vanessa, my new therapist. Some strands were sticking out of her bun just enough to make her look less formal. I guess that was to calm her patients, but they were sticking out so systematically that it made her kind of unsettling. Not to mention her acrylic nails, while cute, were pointed at the ends so much that it looked like she had talons.

"Probably because of what I did in Ms. Keller's class." I replied. Her eyes flickered from me to her binder filled with notes and back. As she did this, I shifted in my seat. The chair was comfy enough, but she was just so offsetting to me.

"I'm not sure I know what happened in Ms. Keller's room." She retorted. I could tell by the way she was looking at her papers that she knew full well what happened. "Why don't you tell me about it?"

Great. This is starting to feel like an interrogation. I just wanted to come for the three mandatory visits that my school decided i need, then I would be good. I though therapists were supposed to be comforting so it wouldn't be bad, but this is definitely not comforting.

"I freaked" I responded with a shrug. She looked at me quizzically.

"What do you mean by 'freaked'?" Vanessa questioned, digging deeper into my life. I wish I could get paid to be nosey.

"You know, the kind of frantically screaming and crawling in the corner kind of thing" was all I could manage. It's not that it upset me, I just couldn't remember what I actaully did or what I told the principal.

"Yet you don't seem too effected by this. What happened to cause you to 'freak'?" Vanessa knew she asked the right question. She could tell by my face. I could feel my cheeks reddening from the embarrassment. I guess if I'm going to see her two more times before I can go back to school, I might as well tell her. After all, these things are supposed to be confidential or something, right?

"Well you see, it was last period on Friday..."

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*on Friday*

"Heya Ms. Keller. Whacha up to on this fine day?" Ms. Keller looked up and saw Michael sitting in his usual seat. After she saw it was him, she immediately turned back to her work and ignored his question. She's not really a bad teacher, it's just that Michael was trying to get on her nerves. I was busy doing the assignment she had put on the board, so I don't know exactly what happened, but he definitely set her off.

"Did you do the homework?" Cassandra always "forgets" her homework. Riley usually helps her out, but she didn't have it either. Turns out I didn't have it either. Neither did the rest of the class. She forgot to collect it for most of the period, but that's when Michael set her off. She sent him to guidance, and asked for homework. She also informed us that because of our "encouragement of Michael's behavior" that his homework would be considered a test grade.

Normally I don't care too much about my grades, but a zero on a test would bring me down to a D. I exchanged panicked looks with nearly ever other student in the classroom. No one really knew what to do, except Lucas.

"Ms. Keller" he started. As he continued he looked at the clock to see how much time he had to waste in order for class to be over. "I would like to thank you for being such an amazing teacher. I have learned so much from you, and I am grateful. I sincerely apologize for—"

"I thin that's enough" Ms. Keller interrupted. She caught on to his stalling tactic. We only had three minutes left and no one else had any ideas. Not so brilliantly, I came up with my own plan to steal for time.

I just stood up and screamed at the top of my lungs. Ms. Keller was so shocked and confused that she momentarily forgot about the homework. I tried to think of what would keep her attention, so I started pacing back and forth. The big cherry on top was when I pulled my hair frantically out of my ponytail.

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*back at the therapist's*

"Well, did it work?" Vanessa asked. She looked genuinely interested now. I guess my tactics at avoiding getting a bad grade were pretty unusual to say the least.

"I guess. I mean, half the class came up to me later and offered to do my homework for me. On the other hand, I'm also being forced to go to therapy until next—" I looked at her frantically. "I mean, no offense or anything! I'm sure you're great"

Oddly enough, she only smiled and laughed a little at my rude comment. It was either that or my face that was so red from embarrassment that someone could mistake me for a strawberry.

"You don't really need to be here." She started. "But you still need to come for your other two mandatory appointments, otherwise you won't be allowed back in school." This for some reason did not sound like something a therapist would say, but on the other hand, she was doing a good job of making me relaxed. She was a lot less intimidating now. She must have noticed the perplexed look on my face because she continued.

"I'm still in college now. I'm going for my doctorate. I guess now I know what to do when I forget the homework." She said with a wink. She was being friendly, but I still sank back in my chair thinking about how ridiculous I must have looked.

"At least now my one woman theater act can help others." I joked. I really hope she does not do that. I looked at the clock briefly then it occurred to me.

"What are we going to do for the rest of my sessions? I mean you said I don't need them. " She seemed to think this over for a minuet.

"Well, as your therapist, it's my job to get through to you. Since you are not opening up to me, I'm going to have to suggest that we go through with your sessions in a more welcoming environment." She said. I'm starting to like her. "There's a frozen yogurt place down the street that would be good"

"Heck yeah! I think I'm going to like therapy"