Dr. Gottman's office smelled of verbena and saline. "Opposites attract," he said, "which invariably causes issues."
Harry's slamming fist nearly splintered the arm of the couch. "She's always snapping and hissing at me!"
The couch was tsunami-wet from Lernie's binaural sobbing.
"Harry," Dr. Gottman began, "relational problems aren't monocausal—"
"Ask him why I look like this!" Lernie sibilated.
Harry's sword flashed out. Sizzling gore spattered.
Lernie shrieked. Writhed. Eventually began to chuckle. "Perfect example, darling," she said stereophonically.
"Ask her why I look like this." Harry lifted a gangrenous, puncture-pocked forearm.
Dr. Gottman closed his eyes. "Let's ... take a break."
Hehe. Very good.
ReplyDelete"Let's....take a break while I pop a couple more Valium." BRILLIANT, my friend!
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Well played!
ReplyDeleteI love this storytelling event and look forward to it every year. Thank you, Loren, and all the authors who make it so delightfully spooky!
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys. I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful stuff, Loren. The references to eminnent relationship psychologist Dr Gottman, to Verbena which has a extraordinary rich cultural hystory and is known as Devil's Bane in Wales, to Lernie the nickname for the Bone Hydra are amazing. Yes, I used Wikipedia to find all this out.
ReplyDelete