1.
Dr. Hartley's weekly group therapy session met at 3:00PM. They consisted of:
Mr. Carlson.
Barbara Faulkner, a girl in her 20's with shoulder-length black hair.
Thomas Hilliard, a man about Barbara's age, with a crew cut.
Agnes Martin, a woman in her 60's with gray hair.
And along with them was a guest. She was a blond woman in her 30's, and she was barefooted.
Robert looked at his watch. "Well, I guess we can get started. Hello, everyone."
They said hi.
"I have a special guest, today. This is Dr. Phyllis Radner."
They greeted her, and she greeted them.
"Now, there is something I think you will notice about her."
"She's barefooted," said Thomas.
Dr Radner smiled. "Yes, that's right."
"You one of those hippies?," asked Mr Carlson, suspiciously.
"No, not at all!"
"Dr. Radner has written a book called Barefoot Therapy," said Dr Hartley. "I've invited her to sit with us today."
"I've brought free copies of my book for all of you."
A box with the books was on the floor. She passed out the books to each of them. The dust sleeve had a photo of a pair of feet on it.
"Are those your feet?," asked Thomas.
Dr Radner smiled. "Yes, they are! OK, before we get started, I'd like everyone to introduce themselves. You can also give some information about yourselves, if you'd like."
They all did this.
"Good. Now, let me tell you about my therapy: I feel that feet have a connection to the earth. And when we're barefooted, we become closer to the earth. And with this closeness comes greater honesty with yourself, and your surroundings.
"And now, I would like all of you to take your shoes and socks off."
"Excuse me, dear," said Agnes, "I have on pantyhose that I can't take off easily."
"That's OK. You can just take your shoes off."
"Thank you, dear."
They took their shoes and socks off—even Dr Hartley! One didn't, however.
"Mr Carlson, how come you're not barefooted?," asked Dr Radner."
"Because I think the whole idea is stupid!"
"Don't knock it until you've tried it!"
"Oh, what the hell!" He also bared his feet.
"Good. Now, what do you all think?"
"I love to go barefooted," said Miss Faulkner, "but I usually do it at home."
"That's is true. The idea of going barefoot in public is foreign to most people. When we see someone barefoot in public, we assume it's because they're too poor to wear shoes, or perhaps they're mentally ill."
"Miss Faulkner," said Thomas, "I hope you don't mind me saying this."
"Go ahead and say it," she responded.
"You look kinda cute, barefooted!"
She smiled. "Why, thank you, Mr Hilliard! Oh, and you can call me Barbara."
"Thanks, Barbara. You can call me Tom."
"OK, Tom."
"Well, this is amazing!," said Dr. Hartley. "One of the things we've been working on is you're shyness with girls."
Thomas smiled. "Yeah, that's right!"
Dr Radner also smiled. "I see my therapy is working! Anyone else have thoughts?"
"This reminds me of when I was a little girl, and I lived on a farm in Kansas," said Agnes. "I went around barefoot almost all the time. Why, I didn't start wearing shoes until I was a teenager."
Dr Radner smiled. "You were a true farm girl!"
"Yes, I was, dear!"
"How about you, Mr. Carlson?"
"This is stupid!"
2.
The session ended. People put their shoes and socks back on.
Thomas walked over to Barbara. "Hey, Barbara, I've got a crazy idea!
"What's that?"
"You know that fountain in front of this building?"
"Yes."
"Let's wade in it!"
She smiled. "That sounds fun!"
"Then afterwards, maybe. . .you could have dinner with me?"
"I'll love too!"
"Great!"
They left the office together.
"Well, I think that session went very well," said Dr. Hartley.
"Your Mr Carlson didn't think it was such a good idea."
"Mr Carlson doesn't think that employee health insurance is a good idea!"
She laughed.
"Would you like to have dinner with my wife and I, this evening?"
"That sounds nice, thank you."
"And if you'd like, you can go to my apartment barefooted!"
She smiled. "All right, I'll do that!"