"Adolescence is a difficult time. And without great parenting things can go awry,"-Regina Greenbaum

I have been a psychologist for about twenty years. I believe that I have dealt with every sort of case one could possibly imagine. About eight months ago my long time friend Richard Hardgrove took a job in New York as the headmaster at Manchester Preparatory.

When he first informed me that there was a position available as a psychologist at that school, I turned it down. I've lived many different places but when I settled down with my wife in Kansas City I knew that that would be the very last time we moved. There is something peaceful about this city and the people here are friendly. Your neighbors quickly become close friends.

Richard can be somewhat persuasive when he wants something. We had coffee late in the summer one afternoon. He told me how much his daughter was enjoying New York. I should have known at that moment where the conversation was headed. He admitted to me that he was somewhat apprehensive about the move because all of his friends and family lived here. I of course sympathized with his situation. As I've previously stated I've moved around a bit over the years.

He asked if I would reconsider taking the job at Manchester. I was about to once again decline his offer when he handed me a letter from the school board, stating all of the qualifications that were required to be considered for the position. The salary immediately caught my attention. It was almost twice the amount I was currently making.

My wife had attended college on the East Coast and had fond memories of her time there. It's important to choose a woman who will always support all of your major decisions. If I decided to accept the position I know she would agree to it. It was already August which gave me about a month to get my affairs in order.

I have a good friend down here in real estate who would help us sell our modest home as we relocated to New York. Richard put me in touch with someone associated with Manchester who helped us find a place to live. Looking back, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. If I had, I believe that I would have still accepted the position.

Manchester's fall semester began early in September. The sombre note it started on should have been the first indication that my life would never be the same. I had many students to see from the very first day because of what had happened that very morning. I should tell you about the events that had led up to that morning.

Richard's daughter had gone to New York before he had. She stayed at Helen Rosemond's house. She has always been very involved with the school, and has a pleasant disposition. While Annette lived there temporarily, Ms. Rosemond's nephew Sebastian came to visit her. I'm sure you can already tell what direction this story is heading in.

In any event, Annette fell in love with Sebastian. She had previously had an article published in Seventeen magazine discussing her views about waiting until marriage to have sex. As she fell in love with Sebastian, she failed to realize that there was more to the situation than what met the eye.

Sebastian had made a bet with his stepsister that he could bed Annette before school began. In exchange Kathryn would be required to sleep with him. Sebastian had succeeded in his task. Kathryn in the end had refused him. He had broken it off but he realized the errors of his ways and wanted to change. To make a long story short, Annette witnessed his death. He had been hit by a cab afterpushing Annette out of the way.

The story doesn't quite end there. Sebastian had given Annette his journal, which detailed every conquest he had ever had. Also contained within the journal was every secret of Kathryn's. Annette had made enough copies for every student to have.

Up until that point Kathryn had more or less been considered a saint. She held a pristine reputation and was the student body president. I had to deal with students who were struck by Sebastian's untimely death. Most of them were more devastated by Kathryn's true nature. According to Sebastian's journal she had hurt every person who had ever come into contact with her.

That was just the first day of school. Kathryn had been shipped off to some fancy rehab where she could recover. The story that I am about to tell you didn't happen for another six months, not too far away from the seniors' graduation date. Now I must inform you that this story isn't meant to be taken lightly. It's quite tragic and somewhat disturbing at certain points. Can this story possibly have a happy ending? In this case I suppose it is all a matter of perception.

****
In the middle of the day Roger arrived at my office with Annette wondering if they both could speak with me in private. Annette shut the door before sitting next to her father directly across from me.

"I received a phone call this morning from Tiffini Valmont. She's Kathryn Merteuil's mother, Sebastian's step mother," explained Roger.

"What was her reason for contacting you?"

"Her daughter has completed her rehabilitation program in Los Angeles. The short end of it is that she is threatening to sue the school if her daughter isn't readmitted."

"And that can never happen," interjected Annette desperately.

"My hands are tied. I can only imagine two different outcomes. She will either persuade the school board to readmit her or else she will sue this school," said Roger heavily.

"Who cares about her mother? It's Kathryn that you should be concerned with! You do not know what she is capable of. If she comes back here she will be out for blood," Annette insisted.

"What makes you say that?" I asked.

"I took away Sebastian and I ruined her reputation. She will want revenge," explained Annette.

"Do you think she genuinely cared about Sebastian?" I wondered out loud.

"Kathryn is incapable of caring about anyone but herself. I'm sure she believes that she did though," responded Annette.

"Surely there must be some way where everyone can compromise," I suggested.

"I've thought about it all morning. What if she were to meet with you and undergo a psychological evaluation of sorts? If you believe her to be a danger to others we can hardly allow her back into this school. However if she has changed, we will allow her to return," shrugged Roger.

"Do not underestimate her," said Annette.

"I'd be willing to meet with her," I agreed.

Annette opened her bag and took out what appeared to be a copy of Sebastian's journal. She then proceeded to take out magazine clippings of Kathryn before the incident and after.

"I will get her file and bring it to you," announced Roger before leaving with his daughter.

*****
As Kathryn entered my office a week later I could understand how she had fooled everyone around her. She was petite with dark brown hair. How could one eighteen-year-old be responsible for such destruction? The superior smile she graced me with allowed me to assume that I would soon find out.

"I'm Dr. Martin," I introduced myself, getting up to shake her hand.

"They told me as much. I can only assume that you know who I am," she aloofly responded.

"Indeed."

"Well let's not waste our time with pleasantries," she said.

"Would you like to tell me a bit about yourself?"

"I've decided to tell you a story of sorts. Please do the both of us a favor and play close attention. I do hate repeating myself."

"I'm intrigued."

"I want the school board to hear our session. You can call it an assessment of cruelty," she states, handing me a tape recorder.

I watched her with undisguised interest. That was the moment that I realized that I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.

"You should feel honored. The only other person who ever got to see this side of me was Sebastian. Oh, where should I begin? I suppose my relationship with my mother is as good as any other place to start.

I cannot tell you just how aggravating it is that my mother receives so much credit for how I turned out to be. She may never win mother of the year but even she couldn't possibly be responsible for the person sitting in front of you. My brand of cruelty is my greatest creation. In more words or less I'm a work of art.

Sebastian would detest how much of a martyr everyone has made him out to be, how everyone blames his father. In his case, he was much more appreciated when he was alive. I suppose that he should be grateful, considering the circumstances. Most artists are only appreciated after they die.

Contrary to popular belief we didn't suffer psychologically because of our parents'lack of attention."

"What is it you suffer from then?"

"You'll understand everything by the time I'm through. I promise. Not only were we artists but talented actors in every sense of the word. What good would it have done us to be surrounded by the two people who could have stop us? We were the actors who had written the script and directed their picture. Our parents were simply our financial backers.

I have always lived my life in the spot light. Sebastian has always been the only one allowed to stand in it with me."

"What about the bet?" I almost hesitated to ask her. This is a side of her I had not quite anticipated. Of course I wasn't disappointed by the turn of events. She graced me with a smile that one could describe as demonic.

"I was just about to tell you all about it. I want to make sure you had a firm grasp on our family dynamics. You wouldn't be trying to get me out of here already, now would you?" She graces me with a different type of smile, one that speaks of her superiority.

"Please continue, Kathryn. You have my undivided attention."

"I figured as much. Well, since you did ask about the bet I should probably tell you a few things first."