group therapy

you go see your therapist
mildred at your regular
time on thursday. but when
you get there, there is a
room full of people sitting
in a circle. take a seat,
mildred says. today we
are doing a group session.
what the hell, you say.
i don't want these dopes
knowing all my personal
issues. now now, she says.
take a seat, and they are not
dopes, they are my patients,
and like you, need my
counseling. perhaps by
hearing other people's
problems we can learn
a little bit more about
our own. now sit down
over there. but that's not
where i want to sit. okay,
where would you like to
sit. right over there, where
i always do. okay, okay,
calm down. everyone move
down a seat so that mr.
special needs here can sit
where he wants to. this
makes everyone groan
as they get up and change
chairs.  the woman who was in
your chair sticks her tongue
out at you. it's cherry
red like she's being licking
a popsicle.  i hate you,
she whispers. drop dead
you tell her and kick at
her leg, but miss. hey, hey,
she screams, this nut tried
to kick me. okay, okay,
settle down. settle down.
we don't call each other
'nuts' in here. we are all
friends. partners in discovering
our true paths to self
improvement and health.
this makes everyone laugh
and cough loudly. okay,
settle down people,
she says. now who wants
to get things going?
the woman sitting next to
you, who you just tried
to kick, raises her hand
and says, i don't think my
father ever really loved
me, which makes you
mumble, pffft, no surprise
there. when she hears this
she jumps on top of you
and tries to put you into
a head lock, but you flip
her over and pin her
arms to the  ground. this
makes her cry though, so
you let her up. okay, okay.
mildred says. and what exactly
have we witnessed here, group?
get back into your seats.
anyone, anyone.
aggression? someone says.
a good wrestling move?
someone else says? no,
mildred says. how about
an expression of love. love
that knows no other way
to show itself except through
pain and suffering. i think
these two people deep down
inside really love one
another. while everyone
is nodding with approval
and applauding, the woman
beside you reaches over
and punches you
in the groin. take that,
daddy, she says, laughing
madly.