Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:21:27 -0400
From: Homer Simpson <d.beer@hotmail.com>
Subject: Devon's Lie 1

A pretext is required. So the usual warnings apply.  If your under 18 or it
is illegal to read this, then don't--go elsewhere.

Comments are welcome.  Flames are deleted immediately.  Send comments to
d.beer@hotmail.com.

The shrink shrugged his shoulders when the staff member informed him of a
new client.  A special client.  It didn't make much difference to the
shrink though.  He'd seen all types of people thru his care.  Some got
better and some didn't.  The non-cured ones went on to a permanent
structure.

    "His name is Devon Shire.  He's a popular singer from what we can tell.
He was brought in by his parents.  They said he was unresponsive and
getting worse" the staff member stated.  "His parents are waiting to talk
with you in visitor's room 7 as soon as you can get to them"

    The shrink nodded his head in acknowledgement.  Sighing, strolling down
the hallway away from the desk with a metal tri-fold clipboard with the
patients information inside.  He stopped at his office door, pressed the
button and the door lock allowed him to enter.  After getting himself a cup
of coffee, the shrink sat in his chair, propped his feet up on his desk,
sighed again and opened up the folder.

    He began to read...

        "Devon Shire.  Age 12.  Residence: Alexandria, LA.  Siblings:
Brother, Sebastian Age 9.  Sister: Amanda, Age 10.  Father: Joseph Shire.
Occupation: Minister, Devout Christian.  Age 35.  Mother: Eunice Shire.
Occupation: Teacher grade 5 Science, Math, and Language Arts.

Hobbies for Devon include Singing, piano, guitar, riding bicycles, visiting
friends.  Discovered at local talent show.  Signed by major record label.
Quickly rose to stardom.  One hit wonder. Has become distant and
unresponsive in past months.  School grades dropping to below passing
levels.  Admitted as suicide risk"
    Another prima donna the shrink was wondering as he drank the coffee and
looked out the window.  At 43 he'd achieved what most people in life had
worked for.  He was fully invested in a retirement program.  His parents
had left him well off, enough that he didn't have to really work if he
didn't want too.  They died tragically in a car accident during his final
year of school.  He went to work for the state straight out of school.  He
worked long and hard to pass the lonely times.  Never married but never
without possible company.  He sighed again, shut the folder up and drank
the rest of his coffee.  He left the office and headed back to the
reception area where the parents were waiting.

    He refilled his cup.  He drank from it and walked into the waiting
area.  He looked around before he remembered that they were already in a
room awaiting him.  He went to room 7, opened the door and walked in.  The
woman was sitting in a chair wringing her hands with worry.  The father
immediately turned around from looking out the window at the man standing
before him.

    "It's about time!" the father said "we've been waiting for over an hour
now.  Now, if we can get started I-we'd appreciate it"

    The father sat down in the chair next to his wife.  He put his hand
over her wringing hand and looked back up at the shrink.  The shrink at
that point sat in a chair opposite them sipping his coffee.  He was mildly
amused at the man.

    "Now, Devon has been slipping at school and at home.  He has been
shirking his duties on a growing basis it seems.  He is about to fail at
school.  None of his friends can be of any help it seems.  His siblings are
no help either.  He is just unresponsive.  Now what can we do?"

    The shrink said nothing yet but sipped his coffee.  Several minutes
passed between them.  The woman kept wringing her hands more and more.  The
preacher started to get more and more upset with this man.  The
receptionist told him that their best psychologist would be on the case.
This was clearly not the man.

    "Well?" the father said.

    The shrink cleared his throat then and held his coffee cup in his lap
on top of the tri-folder.

    "What is it you want to do?" he asked them simply.

    The father glared at him "Well, get him fixed up or what ever is
bothering him"

    "And what do you think is bothering him?"

    "IF I KNEW THAT, I WOULDN'T BE HERE WOULD I?" the father said thru
clinched teeth.  "Are you all this place has to offer?  Dang, I thought it
was more" he said more to his wife than the shrink.

    "I see" said the shrink taking another sip of his coffee and putting
the cup back down.  "First of all, we had to do a physical evaluation on
your son.  Then we'll start on the evaluation of his mental status.  I am
the doctor assigned to him.  I will be in charge of him now"

    "We can just remove him from here" the father stated.

    "Afraid not, once you admitted him, he will be placed here for at least
six weeks per Louisiana law.  It helps those who are considering admitting
someone, to really focus on the patient.  Usually by the time we see them,
it is the last straw.  However, we treat everyone serious.  We will be
speaking to each of you along with his siblings.  Once we find out what his
status is, then we'll develop an attack to help him.  Is there anymore
questions?"

    The father stood up defeated and shook his head.  His wife also stood
up to leave.

    "And by the way, I am the best to treat him here.  You can ask any of
the staff for references"

    They shook hands and said that they would await a phone call for
further instructions.  The shrink walked them to the main entrance and
watched them leave from the parking lot.  They were driving a church van.
The shrink turned to see the boys himself.