misty the therapist

you go to your first appointment
with your new therapist
misty. you are her very first
patient. she is hanging her
certificates on the wall
when you first arrive and taking
the plastic off the couch
where she asks you to sit.
she needs help with centering
the picture of dr. phil
on a white horse, so you help
her. she stands back as you
move it down a little on
one side. perfect, she says.
thank you. now what can i help
you with today. i'm just getting
organized here. i'm
a massage therapist too, and i
have a client coming in
right after we're done,
so we need to talk fast.
she moves around the room
lighting candles and incense.
so, she says, what is it,
your mother? let's start there.
oh, can you help me with this
massage table, it's so heavy.
did she not love you when you
were a child. oh, thanks,
those table legs stick sometimes,
you have to really yank
on them. there we go. great.
now let's talk about that mean
old witch mother of yours,
shall we? don't even get me
started on mine, you see
that scar right there,
she says, pointing at
the outside of her leg.
she burned me with a hot
iron, i'm not kidding.
so, okay, your turn.
i'm listening.