3c4b7832d78399e27c2a678b05724ac0 by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Format: epub
Published: 2013-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

THE PSYCHIATRIST

Petrov's office called to tell Bill that his appointment with the psychiatrist, a Dr. Pasternak, was scheduled for Monday, August 4, at 8:45 a.m.

On the day before the appointment, Bill stood in his walk-in closet. He would wear his best suit, look this Dr. Pasternak straight in the eye, and answer his questions calmly and rationally. Bill's gaze slid along the row of jackets and trousers. On second thought, he decided that what he wanted was not his best suit, which might convey the idea that he was trying to make an impression, but a moderately priced suit, solid and unassailable. There were five choices, and he tried each of them on before the mirror, judging his appearance from different angles. The first of the candidates was a dark cottonwool blend with a soft gray stripe. He examined the stripe and concluded that it was too subtle. All should be out in the open, he had nothing to hide. A second suit was cut too aggressively with that tapered European look, projecting an extravagance even though he had paid only $250 for it. These shrinks were probably drowning in rich Boston Brahmins who threw money at their little neuroses. The third, a solid cotton, slightly wrinkled but not too wrinkled, hung from his body in a comfortable and modest manner. Yes, that was it. He had long since picked out a smart, button-down white shirt, but he spent another ten minutes selecting the tie, which should have a small splash of color. There were over fifty ties to choose from in his closet. Eventually, suit, shirt, and tie were laid out on the cushioned divan, with Gerty strictly forbidden in the room.

Early the next morning Bill was informed that the appointment with Dr. Pasternak was canceled. Some emergency had come up, a woman's voice on the telephone explained. However, an appointment with another psychiatrist, a colleague of Dr. Pasternak named Dr. Kripke, had been arranged as a substitute, at the same hour and day so as to offer the least inconvenience. In Somerville.

Bill hurled down his toast and flew shouting up the stairs. What was this? Who was this Kripke? He'd never heard of Kripke. How could they pressure him like this at the last minute? He looked at his watch. It was 7:36. He couldn't possibly make an 8:45 appointment, driving to some unfamiliar location in rush-hour traffic. Wasn't Somerville a rat's nest of one-way streets and cul-de-sacs? He ran into his bedroom and began throwing on clothes. From inside the closet, Melissa interrupted her telephone conversation to say that she could study a map and call him en route with directions. What time was it now? Seven-forty.

Alex stumbled into the hall, wearing his jockey shorts. "What's all the noise?" he shouted. "You've woken me up. I was planning on sleeping in. Dad." He stood outside his parents' bedroom door. "Dad, why are you doing this? I don't want you to go."

"It's just another doctor," Bill shouted through the closed door.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.