“My dad hates me.”
“How do you know?”
“He ignores me a lot. Uses me to get at my mother when he’s angry with her.” the teen flinched, glancing at the family portrait on the psychologist’s desk.
“What does he make you do?”
“Lots. Like making me sneak into her purse and bring him her car keys so she’d miss her appointments.”
The man took time to write copious notes.
“Do you have siblings?” he asked.
“One. An older brother.”
“How’s the relationship between him and your dad?”
“They are best of friends,” Calvin surmised. “Do things together, like fishing for the day.”
“Are you ever invited?”
“No. I told you, Dad hates me.”
“And why is that? Did you upset him?”
“He says I’m the dumbest in the family. Has no patience for me.”
“Calvin, you can’t change others. Your father is what he is. You can however change your approach to him. Have you tried doing something nice that he would enjoy?”
“Why should I? He won’t pay attention.”
“How do you know if you haven’t tried? Do you have favourite hobbies? Are you into sports?”
“Yes.”
“Do they make you happy?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you have close friends?”
“Uh-huh.”
“That’s great. Carry on with all that.”
For the first time in their meeting, the tension in Calvin’s body lightened. He was able to keep his hands still.
“What would you say to having your parents at our next session?” the psychologist asked.
“Dad wouldn’t go. Don’t think Mom would. She’s too scared to do something Dad doesn’t approve and have him yell or hit her again.”
“He hits her often?”
“Only when she doesn’t obey him.”
“Does he hit you?”
“Sometimes. Takes an old belt to my back. Gets rid of his anger that way.”
“Does your Dad know that you’re seeing a psychologist today?”
“No. Mom doesn’t tell him everything.”
“Calvin, your dad needs professional help. This is what I propose we do in your situation…”
At the end of the meeting the teen stood up appearing rejuvenated. His gait down the hallway and out of the building was poised with confidence.
Sometime later, a crumpled note was discovered inside a street garbage receptacle.
It read: “I was Calvin Sutherland. Son of a mother who cared about me and a father who wanted me dead.”