Fast Fiction: Therapy
Who can the patient be thinking of when he writes about a lovely, sexy young doctor?
Richard Mallinson tells of a psychiatric disappointment.
'Have you read Ed Carter's story?' Dr Andrew Castleford, the psychiatrist, put the question to his young colleague, Dr Denina Thresher.
'Yes, I read it in bed last night. He has a vivid imagination, hasn't he?'
'You mean, that he's still as loopy as ever?'
'No, that's not what I mean - though I admit I'm not sure what to do about him next.'
'Well, judging by the story, he worships you,' said Dr Castleford. 'I assume that the character Nina Esher is meant to be you, isn't it?'
'Please don't say that. . . anyway, what about Drew Ford? He's a nasty piece of work, isn't he?'
'Are you implying - ?'
'I'm not implying anything .. . though if the cap fits . . .
'Well, it doesn't. I'm much nicer and kinder than Drew Ford and I'm not always trying to jump into bed with every woman I meet. Also, I'm not such a Philistine as he is, I'm interested in books, music and -'
'I hadn't noticed.'
'Now, now, Dr Thresher, don't be perverse ... Anyway, to return to Nina Esher. . . the way that Ed depicts the sensuality behind her cool facade is strikingly done, don't you think?'
'You mean all that clandestine sex? Well, let me tell you -'
'Oh, never mind,' said Dr Castleford wearily. 'Now, are you going to see him or am I? I'm sure he's expecting some sort of feedback.'
*
'Now Ed,' said Dr Denina Thresher, 'when you wrote your story entitled Therapy, you weren't basing the characters on anyone you knew, were you? There is this Nina Esher, for example, the lovely, sexy young doctor. Surely she is a figment of your imagination, isn't she?'
'Oh, no,' said Ed, 'she's real enough - but you probably don't know her.'
