Crying For Alice

Dr. Marty - Make Stuff Up, Part 3

Dr. Marty asked me about my imaginary friend. I addressed him as “Asshole.” Dr. Marty interrupted, “Please. I hope that you will find the ability to be civil to this person. ‘Asshole’ really isn’t a name even if you don’t respect him.”

Dr. Marty made the universal air-quotes gesture when he said “Asshole.” He threw in a “hee hee” for good measure. Dee giggled a little, too.

Talking to both of us, Dr. Marty meandered on, “He is a part of you and you can’t help but feel some positive sentiment because he helps out alot, too, you know? And he’s not going to go away either so you might as well work something out.”

Then turning to me, he continued, “Tom, pick a name. Do that by our next meeting if you can.”

I wish I had called Dr. Marty, “Asshole.”

“You can give a little background,” he said. “A good story, perhaps.” Next, he asked Dee about her imaginary friend.

Dee responded like an over-eager highschool sophomore, “Oh. I know my friend, Marty. Her name is Alice Hopper. She was the principal at my day school.”

Dr. Marty said, “I like her name.”

Dee’s neck reddened. Her voice tightened. She started waving her hands near her face. Dee was getting ready for a good cry.

“I am a third grade student when she started teaching my class,” she said. “I feel a little more stupid and a little more scared. She was the principal. But I know that she’ll teach me what to do, teach me how.”

“Teachers are great that way,” Dr. Marty said.

“I didn’t get A’s or B’s necessarily. I wasn’t that kind of student in grade school. I was easily distracted and didn’t finish enough of my homework.”

Dr. Marty asked, “Too many other interesting things. Boys perhaps?”

Like Dee, he would interrupt as if impulsiveness should be routinely permitted.

“Boys, yes. In third grade, I chased them. They didn’t chase me until sixth grade. But that didn’t bother Mrs. Hopper. She only got upset if I didn’t start something creative or exciting. She seemed happiest when I was excited.”

“You probably liked new lessons, not finishing old ones.”

“Yes exactly. You understand. My parents were always concerned about that. They talked to Mrs. Hopper and wondered what they should do.”

Dr. Marty said, “That’s what parents do.”

“Particularly my Dad,” Dee said. “He was always concerned. She’d tell them not to worry.”

“That was comforting,” Dr. Marty said.

“Then later,” Dee continued, “she took me aside and told me a secret, ‘When you grow up, you’re going to be smart and happy. You’re a great little girl. I hope you’ll visit me when you’re a great grown up.’ My friend..” The rest of the sentence was said through tears, “My friend..is Alice Hopper..and I’m happy..because..I get to..visit her now..”

Dr. Marty said, “Alice is wonderful person. A great friend.”

Dee continued to cry.

I was impressed with her answer, and rather troubled by mine. It was hard not to be angry at my inner Asshole.

… continued

——

Dr. Marty - Make Stuff Up

Part 3: Crying For Alice
Part 2: Canceling Our Meeting
Part 1: Watch Out! Stop!