OTL

[Ron. Lavalette]

He chooses the darkest place he can find because it’s hot outside and because his journal is black, his pen’s ink is black, and his mood’s a perfect match.

Inside, even though the waitress has a crush on him and the pop star in the overhead speakers declares her unquenchable desire, he can’t seem to focus on anything except the screams still ringing in his ears and the likelihood of further screaming and nightmarish raving despite the ever-increasing administration of sedatives and anti-psychotics.

Back at the office, his colleagues are having a festive little pot-luck group birthday party and counting down the days until their clients head out for summer camp, freeing them up for even longer lunches, even more festive parties.

Most of them have problem clients too, but all of them duck into their offices and close their doors when they see his screamer in the lobby.

He wishes he could do the same; wishes he didn’t cringe every time his phone rang or his beeper buzzed.

Even when he steps outside into the sunlight there’s still plenty of darkness to go around.

[Kristine_ES]

just wanted to say that i've been thinking about this post for days.

i really don't know what to say about it, other than how much i liked it, but how much of a scene it is, and continues to play in my head. 

[Bill Floyd]

I can't help but think the writer is the one bright spot in the screamer's darkness.  In a world that had its values squared, we would take better care of those whose minds turn on them, because we're all just a little chemical tweak away from the very same doom.  Write whenever you need us.

[Mike Handley]

Would that there were more McMurphys and less Ratcheds. 

[Angela]

Seems there should be an inpatient place for this client, and I'm sure there is not.  Sorry none of the office mates will step up and at least witness what he has to endure - I mean, just for safety's sake.  Assholes.

[Teresa]

Here's one of the best reasons I know of to help those who seem hopeless:

 

abcnews.go.com  Type in Carly Fleishman

[Gita]

Powerful and moving piece, Ron. This kind of work takes a toll the rest of us can't imagine. Your last line is so truthful it hurts.

I think I might have an answer to Lapham's question about why we try to save these disturbed people.

In my experience, there was a time when such a patient/client was as "normal" as you and I. That person is still inside there, however crazy the current behavior might be. Some of them are vets with PTSD and worse. Some were fine until one day at the age of 19 or 20 a switch turned and late onset schizophrenia took over their brains, like an invader with chemical weapons.  I think of the cellist in the movie, ""The Soloist."  Can we preserve the artist within if the rest of the man is a jumble of misery? Maybe that's worth the resources we spend.

[Jamie Hogan]

Evokes a lot of introspection, Ron. Love the scene setting with all the black in the first sentence, and the contrast with the festivities. Mostly, it just causes me to think of the strategies I use when work threatens to steal the rest of my life from me, and how they're mostly ineffective.

[Joey Delgado]

Feels like the first true horror story I've read on 6S. Very nice, Ron. :)

[Teresa]

Vacation time.  Or day trip this weekend.  Or a long massage -- two hours in candlelight, the music of 2002, lavender, oil, and strong tiny Thai hands. 

 

Sorry for the heat and darkness.  But happy we get to read about it.