Straightjacket Read Online Free Page A

hear Gertrude out.”
    “You know,” Gertrude said, this time to George, “the rain makes her melt, like that green wicked witch. She has to be very careful.”
    George tried desperately to stifle a nervous whine, but part of it managed to escape. Dr. Blackwell nodded in his direction, apparently acknowledging George’s attempt to control himself. Then he turned his attention toward Gertrude.
    “Remember what we said about your unicorn in our session yesterday?”
    She huffed in annoyance and refused to answer.
    “Remember how we agreed to focus less on the unicorn and more on things like being able to care for yourself and maintaining relationships with your children and grandchildren?”
    “Yes, I remember.” Gertrude crossed her arms and started pouting.
    “Good, that’s very good.” Dr. Blackwell nodded.
    “I still don’t like what you’re suggesting. My Aurora is very real, Doctor, and I hate to think what she would do to you if she heard you telling me to ignore her.” She turned to George and confided in him once more. “Unicorns can be very unpleasant when they want to be,” she whispered.
    George was too terrified to respond at all.
    “Now, now, Gertrude, let’s stay calm.”
    Gertrude sat up straight and tilted her chin up so as to peer down at Dr. Blackwell with a disapproving air. She wouldn’t answer.
    “Let’s just relax and focus on the here and now,” said Dr. Blackwell.
    George had started counting to himself again.
    “Chrissy,” Dr. Blackwell went on, “please tell us what you know is true.”
    Chrissy twirled a section of her hair around and around her finger.
    “I know that I’m addicted to being in this institution. I prefer living my life here than dealing with what’s out there.” She motioned toward the window with her free hand. “Here, I can take a break from the stresses of my day-to-day life, shirking my responsibilities.” She paused, waiting for a response. “How’s that for self-awareness?” Her grand finale was a wink at Caleb.
    Anna allowed herself to sneak a peek at him, and was at first relieved to see that he wasn’t staring at her anymore. But when she noticed he was looking right back at Chrissy, amused, she was irritated.
    “Chrissy, you’ve made a lot of progress over the years during your stays here. Now our goal is to make sure you can function well outside of these walls so that you don’t feel the need to retreat back here to deal with adversity.”
    Chrissy continued twirling her hair.
    “You’ve held a job, paid rent, been drug-free for quite a while. You’ve made a lot of progress and you shouldn’t ignore that.”
    Gertrude chimed in. “It’s true, dear; you’re doing very well.” She smiled sweetly.
    “Thanks,” Chrissy replied. She rolled her eyes at Caleb like they shared an inside joke and recrossed her bare legs very slowly.
    “Okay, let’s move on. Caleb, please tell the group what you know is true.”
    “I know I’m an angel,” he said dryly, all the while staring at Anna, his face frozen and expressionless. He was even crazier than she thought.
    “Yes, Caleb, I know you think that that’s true,” Dr. Blackwell answered.
    Caleb didn’t respond but kept staring at Anna. His gaze was too intense for her, and, as if seeking protection, she devoted all her attention to the doctor, concentrating so hard on what he had to say that she was squinting.
    “Remember what we talked about? We can ask ourselves, what evidence do I have that makes this statement true?”
    “I don’t need any evidence. It is true.”
    Dr. Blackwell cleared his throat. “Look around the room. Where are you? Who’s with you? Use this as evidence of what reality is.”
    Caleb did what was asked of him. He looked around the room, from one face to the next. George was still counting obsessively. Gertrude was smoothing her skirt and smiling kindly to herself. Chrissy flashed him an enormous smile and flipped her hair. Anna watched him as he came to