(The last three weeks have been a steep curve of learning; I want to write down some of it.) This homework assignment is to describe a children's drawing, a simple drawing of a birthday party. And my therapist, Alexandra, told me to make a little story also (because she seems to have got the idea that I am promising).
"It's a birthday party. The boy with the big grin in the center is probably the celebrator.* The boys to either side have (presumably) presents for him. The cake in front of the celebrator has nine candles, which either means he's nine years old, or his parents screwed up. There are plates in front of his friends, but none in front of the birthday boy. Maybe he's supposed to give a slice to each of them, and than eat the rest of it by himself.
"But it doesn't matter; the missing plate is far from the birthday boy's thoughts. (Let's call him Ralph.) He is grinning -- do you notice that the other two are not? -- not in laughter; he is grinning because the plan he has cultivated, the plan he has spent the last year, well, planning, is coming to fruition. For his right hand is reaching, grasping for the big knife; and he is going to kill the two, or at least maim them.
"And yet. The right one of the boys -- let's call him Ralph, too -- is concentrating on Ralph the Killer's (or Maimer's) face. And do you know? his hands, both of them, are under the table. Maybe he is reaching for a knife too; it could be, because we can't see under the table. Maybe he's reaching for a gun! Maybe he's reaching for a knife and a gun! One thing that is for sure: we can't know until we move a minute past . . . the birthday party."
*(Originally I used the word "celebrant", but I looked it up, and the definition was "the priest officiating at the Eucharist," so no.)
Well, that ought to get you a new therapist! A really strong one.
Vicki
The nice thing about being a grown-up is that the therapist isn't going to feel the need to call your parents or a guidance counselor to see what this "means."
I am amused that you have picked up the habit of using "Ralph" as the all-purpose name.
Scraps
Alexandra knows about my obsession with funny death. When I reached the second paragraph reading it aloud, she sighed.
This gave me a laugh on the morning after Halloween!
Elise
Yeah, "celebrant" would only be appropriate if he were going to eat them afterwards.
(Here I am, leaving a comment in your blog, figuring it might be a day or three before you get home to log on and see it, unless you've got the itty bitty computer in the hospital. Hi!)