So We Got Married

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 22

Friday afternoon, I sat on my session chair and across me was my youngest patient ever. Like his father, his hair was blonde and neatly cut. He was in a white t-shirt and brown khaki shorts. He dangled his feet rhythmically. His eyes unlike his fathers were hazel brown and had the most lulling effect on a human being. I smiled at him and he smiled back

. He was only seven years old.

I had brought in kid’s stuff to decorate my office and make it more patient friendly for my youngest company. He re-positioned himself several times while I watched and sometimes he would play lightly with the animal shaped cushions. Typical behavior of a normal kid. They were hard to keep in one place.

“Sammy how is school?”

“School is fine doctor.”

He answered questions diligently.

“Do you like being in your school?”

He nodded.

“Tell me more about it, I mean your school, teachers and all.”

“The teachers are nice, most of the pupils are nice. Dylan is my best friend. I love being at school, we get to learn new things, I play my favourite games with my fellow peers. I love that.”

“That’s nice.”

He smiled at me then began playing with one of the cushions again. I stood from my seat and took out two candy bars from my locker

. I took one for myself and the other one I offered to him.

“Thank you doctor.”

“You know sometimes in school we have mean friends who say mean things to us and make us feel bad about ourselves.”

“You mean like Ryan?”

“Who is Ryan?”

“He is my classmate.”

“The mean classmate.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me more about him, Ryan.”

“He is always taking other people stuff just to make other kids cry. Sometimes he pinches us when the teacher is not watching. Bad, bad stuff.”

“Does he do this bad, bad stuff to you?”

“Yes he does sometimes, but Dylan’s grandmother says that bullies do that because they do not have self- love. So we should show them a little bit of love.”

“But you should not allow people to step on you just because they have little love for themselves.”

“Sometimes we report him but other times I choose to show a little of love.”

“How do you do that?”

“Last week he grabbed my pencil while I was writing, I could have told the teacher but I asked him to keep it because I had another one to use.”

“Oh!”

“What did he say?”

“He did not believe it but I just continued writing after smiling at him, he hasn’t bothered me again since.”

“I love that, you conquered hate with love. But you must know that not everyone is capable of responding to an act of love like Ryan did.”

“I understand that Doctor.”

“Please call me Ella.”

“Okay Ella.”

“Tell me something, Sammy why do you think you are here?”

“Dad said sometimes we needed to talk to people to feel better about things.”

“Tell me Dylan, are there somethings you feel bad about.”

He said nothing, instead he grabbed a pillow and held it in a hugging manner. I knew without a doubt he was trying to hide his emotions.

“Sammy?”

“You don’t want to talk about it?

He nodded and released the pillow then started dangling his feet playfully again.

“Then talk let’s talk about your family.”

“Sure.”

“Tell me about your parents.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Just anything.”

“Okay.”

I smiled and nodded encouraging him to continue.

“I love my dad. He ensures I have everything I need. He buys me toys that I like very much and also make time to spend with me though he has work to do.”

“You father loves you very much.”

“Yes he does.”

“What of your mum, tell me about her?”

“I don’t have a mum.”

I leaned forward in surprise.

“You don’t have a mum?”

“Yes, she died when I was still young.”

He said young like he was now fifty years old.

“Am so sorry about that.”

“How is it being without your mum?”

“Am okay, sometimes I imagine her being here with me. Waking me up to go to school and just having her around like normal kids would.”

“Is that the reason why you have been sad lately?”

He shook his head.

“What is then?” Tell me am here to listen.”

“It’s Dylan.”

“Tell me, what about him?”

“The truck that looks like an ice-cream truck took them away when they had an accident and they were brought back in wooden boxes.”

“Took who?”

“Dylan’s parent’s.”

It took me a moment to realize that by ice-truck he meant an ambulance. I later realized that he had been watching Peter rabbit and that’s where he got that description.

“Am sorry about what happened to your friend’s parent.”

“I also want you to know that sometimes bad things happen to us but we are strong and even though at this moment we feel pain and we miss them, we can be better again and also enjoy life.”

“Okay.”

“Promise me something Sammy.”

“What?”

“That every time you feel sad about your mum, or Dylan parents you will remember that if they were here, they would want you to be happy.”

He gave me a sad smile.

“Did you enjoy talking to me about yourself.”

“I think I do.” He stopped and paused for a while then asked me the saddest question any of my adult patients had ever asked.

“Do you think my dad will be taken away by the ice- cream truck too? I still love for him to be around.”

I felt the sadness in him and I had to restrain myself from shedding a tear.

“No, I promise your dad is here to protect you. No one is taking him from you.”

“Like Dylan’s grandma?”

“Yes like Dylan’s grandma.”

“Sammy you will be fine, and am going to be available here if you ever need to talk to someone okay.”

“Okay, can Dylan come too.”

“Oh, I will ask your dad to talk to his grandma then maybe he can come.”

“Okay.”

He seemed satisfied with my answer and went on playing with the pillow on the couch. I rose from my couch and went to ring his father to tell him I was done. Five minutes later he was in. Sammy was on the couch still playing.

. I had given him an extra candy to keep his mouth busy.

“Ensure he brushes his teeth because of the candy.”

“Okay.”

We both stood at the same position looking at Sammy.

“What happened to Dylan parents?”

“They were involved in a car accident. Dylan was in the car with them when it happened. He got out unscathed but his parents died on the way to the hospital. What does that have to do with Sammy?”

“He is scared that you are going to leave him, just as Dylan’s parents did.”

“Oh! my boy.” He made as if to rush to him.

“Don’t, he is a smart boy and he is going to be fine. His young mind is trying to grasp what loss is. He still doesn’t understand why he has to grow up without his mother and now his best friend’s parents have died too. Every parent he knows is leaving, he just has to understand that though what happened was tragic, you are still here and you will not leave him no matter what”

“Is he going to be fine though?”

“Am sure he is.”

I removed my hand that had involuntarily flew onto his chest and cleared my throat to let off the tension in me.

“Can you try and have him here for a session? That’s if he is not seeing any psychiatrist.”

“Sure I will talk to his grandma. And who is going to pay for all this sessions?”

“You, your son requested for this and I don’t run charity.” I said smiling and involuntarily patted his shoulder. Something I did often with people only close to me. Once again I removed my hands embarrassed.

“I guess that would be all for today.”

“Thanks doctor.”

“Hey buddy it’s time to go.”

“I’ll see you next week.”

He picked his son and I opened the office door to let him out. After he stepped out he turned and said to me.

“It was good seeing you again Ella.”