"How was school?"
"I don't have school this week."
"Why not?"
"Time off for good behaviour," Eric claimed proudly.
"Is that right?"
"Nope, but you already know why I'm not at school so I just thought since we were doing a dance, I could have some fun too."
The doctor took in a deep breath and released it through his nose before responding with, "Contrary to what you may believe, Peter and Elizabeth do not report to me on everything you do."
"Of course they do."
"No…they don't. They would only have the need to tell me if they became concerned enough that you were going to do something that would put yourself in harm's way, and that's not happened."
"So, why am I having to come? They haven't reported anything to you," he put his hands on his chest, "and look, I obviously haven't put myself in 'harm's way.' How come I still have to suffer through this every week?"
The doctor paused a few moments before asking his own question, "Why do you think you still need to come?"
"I'm not the one they're paying the big bucks to, Doctor. You tell me."
"You still need to come because you continue to be…troubled, for want of a better word, by a number of issues."
"What a friggen load of crock. Contrary to what you may believe, Peter and Elizabeth don't know shit. I'm fine, there is nothing troubling me and I think the only reason they force me to come here is so they can have one hour of p and q every Wednesday evening without my face reminding them that they were burdened with a kid they would rather have nothing to do with, and have only taken me in because they feel sorry for their buddy, Neal."
"Is that what you believe?"
"If I say, 'No, I made it all up, Peter and Elizabeth are the nicest parents in the world and I love living there,' will I have to come back next week?"
"Yes, you will."
"Why?"
"Why don't you have school this week?"
"Oh, for shit's sake! What do you care?"
"I'm paid the big bucks to care. Why weren't you at school?"
"Because I punched a kid in the face and went and got myself suspended."
"Why did you punch him?"
"He was pissing me off."
"What did he say?"
"I don't know, how the hell am I supposed to remember something that happened days ago – it's not like I wrote it all down."
"What did Peter and Elizabeth have to say about you being in a school yard fight and getting yourself suspended?"
"They said the punk must have deserved what he got."
"If he deserved it, why did you get suspended? Did the other boy start it?"
"Yes, of course he started it. He was jabbering on, I got sick of listening to him, I punched him. I don't go around picking fights with other kids. I have better things to do."
"Like what?"
"Like…you know…" Eric shrugged, "Who cares."
"What did your dad say?"
"Who, Neal?"
The doctor nodded.
"Dunno. I haven't seen him since but no doubt Peter has already snitched on me."
"Does Peter do that? Does he report to Neal on everything you do?"
"Pretty much."
"Why do you think he does that?"
"Cause he's so friggen Miss Goody Two Shoes? Perfect Peter does everything by the book."
"What about your dad? What do you think he is going to say when he finds out you've been in a fight?"
"Who, Neal?"
The doctor nodded.
Eric shrugged and crossed his arms for good measure, but not before checking the time on his watch. "What do I care what he says."
"Well, since Peter is going to report it to your dad anyway, when you do talk to him, might I suggest skipping the whole school yard fight story, as dramatic as it may sound, and tell him the truth instead."
"What's that supposed to mean," Eric challenged.
"It means, that there is nothing to gain here by lying. I've told you before that everything you say to me is confidential and stays in this room."
"Like, if I tell you where Mom is," Eric scoffed, "you won't go running to the FEDS to collect your reward money?"
"There's no bounty set against your mom."
"Now you're lying, Doctor. Both you and I know, there's always some kind of reward for the snitches."
"If you say so, Eric." The doctor scribbled a note in his book then looked up, "So where is your mom?"
"Like I'd tell you," Eric mumbled under his breath as his eyes were drawn once more to the time on his watch. After a long stretch of silence, he lifted his chin boldly and declared, "Anyways, what does it matter where she is, she's coming back soon to get me and then you'll never have to be bothered with us again."