Chapter 8

For the rest of the afternoon, Crystal, Robbie, and Rosie all hung out around the house. Right before dinnertime, Andy asked to see Robbie privately so they walked into Andy's office. "Dr. Brown, what did you want to see me about?"

"I had mentioned to both you and Crystal that I would see about setting up an appointment with a counselor who is also a friend of mine."

"Yes, now I remember. Were you able to get an appointment?"

"Yes, I was. It's for tomorrow, I hope that is okay with you."

"Yes that's fine. Thank you for taking care of this for me! Should Crystal and Rosie be aware of what's going to happen now?"

"Well you can let Crystal and Rosie be aware about tomorrow. The appointment is at 11:00, it takes almost an hour to get there, you should leave at 9:45. I have already written down the directions for you."

"Okay, great! Well I think I'm going to inform Crystal and Rosie now. Thanks for everything!"

"You are more than welcome. If you need me tomorrow, I will be at the office so you can reach me there."

Robbie and Dr. Brown leave the study and Dr. Brown heads into the kitchen to figure out what's for dinner while Robbie finds Crystal and Rosie. He finds them in the living room watching television. He sees Rosie cuddled in the arms of Crystal and holding on tightly to her teddy bear Blueberry while they both sit and watch some Disney movie. He walks over to the couch and sits down next to them and is getting ready to inform them of the appointment. "Crystal and Rosie, I would like to tell you something."

"Sure, Robbie, is everything okay?" asked Crystal.

"Yea everything is fine, Dr. Brown just finished discussing something with me. He has scheduled an appointment for the three of us to go see a counselor tomorrow in the morning."

"Robbie, are we sick? Is that why we have an appointment tomorrow?" asked Rosie.

"No, Rosie. We are going to see a counselor named Dr. Smith who will speak to all three of us about what we have been going through."

"What time is the appointment?" asked Crystal.

"At 11:00, Dr. Brown was thinking of us leaving at 9:45 to allow us enough time to get there."

"Okay sounds like a plan to me!" said Crystal. Meanwhile Robbie, Rosie, and Crystal are still watching TV until its time for dinner. After dinner the three of them decided to play a game of cards before going to bed early. At about 9:30, the three of them said their goodnights to everyone and headed upstairs to start getting ready for sleep.

Once upstairs Rosie asks Crystal if she can sleep with her again and Crystal agrees. The three siblings say their goodnights to teach other and head into bed. The next morning the alarm clock goes off at 8:30 signaling for Robbie to get up and wake up his sisters. He goes into the next room and sees that they are both still sleeping peacefully.

He calls out to them and they finally get out of bed. "Robbie, I'm hungry."said Rosie in a quiet voice as she is getting her teddy bear from the bed.

"Okay, Rosie. Do you want to eat breakfast now or get dressed?"

"Eat and then get dressed."

"Okay, that sounds like a plan!"

"Crystal do you want to eat or get dressed first?"

"I think I will start getting ready first so that way I can help Rosie get ready when you two come back upstairs."

"Okay, see you in a little bit." Robbie with Rosie in his arms head downstairs into the kitchen. "Rosie what do you want for breakfast?"

"Some cereal and apple juice."

"Okay, its coming up." Robbie brings over two bowls, milk and the juice along with the dishes and starts preparing their breakfast. Rosie sat there being extremely quiet without saying a word at all. "Rosie are you okay?"

"No, not really."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm scared."

"What are you scared about?"

"About going to see that doctor with you and Crystal."

"There's nothing to be afraid of. Crystal and I will be in the same room as you. So don't worry okay?"

"Okay."

Robbie and Rosie finished their breakfast and headed upstairs to get ready for their appointment. When Robbie headed Rosie in to see Crystal, they saw she was all ready and was making up the bed. Robbie had wanted to speak with Crystal and inform her of what Rosie had said during breakfast. "Crystal can I speak with you for a second outside?" "Sure."

"Rosie, Robbie and I need to discuss something. I will be right back. Why don't you pick out an outfit to wear for the day?"

"Okay."

Now outside of the bedroom, Robbie tells Crystal that Rosie was extremely quiet during breakfast and she told him that she was scared about going to see the doctor. "But I informed her that you and I will both be in the same room."

"What do you think we should do?"

"Maybe just make sure she is comfortable around the doctor."

"Okay."

"Crystal can you finish getting Rosie ready? Because I need to take a shower so we can leave in the next 20 minutes."

"Okay. Rosie and I will meet you downstairs." After Rosie finished getting ready, she and Crystal emerged and already saw Robbie waiting on the couch for them. Robbie stood up and Rosie jumped into his arms to be carried outside while Crystal grabbed her purse and they all got into Robbie's car.

Crystal helped Robbie with the directions while Rosie sat in the backseat patiently waiting to get there. It had been extremely quiet in the car expect for the small talk between Crystal and Robbie and the music playing. Finally they arrived at their destination, the three of them got out of the car and headed towards the building. They found the office and walked in and sat in the waiting room until Dr. Smith was ready for them.

While waiting, Rosie sat on Crystal's lap and rested her head on her shoulder while being really quiet. Robbie just happened to look over at Crystal and gave her a look that something might be upsetting Rosie. Robbie decided to ask Rosie again, "are you okay?"

Rosie turns her head and looks up at Robbie and replies, "I was thinking about mommy and daddy and how I wish they were here right now."

Directly after she said this, she started to cry and tears were coming down her face. Robbie motioned for Rosie to come closer to him and he gave Rosie a hug and a kiss and held her for quite sometime. A few minutes later Dr. Smith came out of her office and called out the Carter's. Robbie looked up and he started to get up, but still carrying Rosie while Crystal followed behind.

They entered her office and the three of them sat down on the couch with the doctor sitting in a chair facing them. The doctor first stated who she is and what she can do for them. Then it was time to allow the Carter's to talk. The first question was to ask for their names and how old they were, "hi I'm Robbie and I'm 17 years old and a junior. I'm Crystal and 16 years old and a sophomore."

Both Crystal and Robbie thought Rosie was going to talk next but Rosie didn't say anything. Dr. Smith stepped in at this point and started to engage in a conversation with Rosie, "hi there! What is your name?"

At first there was still no response, so Robbie and Crystal both reassured Rosie it was okay to talk with the doctor.

Rosie replied, "I'm Rosie."

"How old are you?"

"I'm five and in kindergarten."

"You are the most adorable little girl I've seen!"

"Thank You!" replied Rosie with a smile on her face.

Dr. Smith then asked a general question to anyone of them to answer. "How are you all coping so far with the tragic death of your parents?"

Both Crystal and Robbie look at each other and Robbie answers with, "It hasn't been easy ever since but we are taking it each day at a time. We have all stuck by each other and offered support in anyway we can."

Dr. Smith thinks what they are doing are excellent ways to cope. She explains to them that these are essential in times like this. As a closing, she had wanted to ask any of them if they had any questions or concerns about anything.

Robbie answered this question by saying that both he and Crystal are concerned about Rosie since the death of our parents. Dr. Smith replies, "I might understand what is happening here but I need to find out more information from either you or Crystal before continuing."

Crystal decides to step in and answer "we have been supportive and helped Rosie to understand this concept. We have done everything we can. Right now we just want to know what are the next steps in dealing with this?"

Before answering Crystal's question, Dr. Smith asks Rosie something hoping she can get an answer out of her. "Rosie do you feel as though ever since the death of your parents, you think that Robbie and Crystal are going somewhere?"

At this moment, Rosie answers by saying yes and tears start coming down her face. Both Robbie and Crystal pick Rosie up and comfort her. They explain to her that neither one of them is going anywhere. At this moment, Rosie feels much better. Dr. Smith tells Robbie and Crystal that she believes that overtime things will get back to being the way they were. She gives them her card and tells them that if they need someone to talk to against, just to give her a call. At this time, Crystal picks up Rosie and Robbie follows and as walking out, they all thank Dr. Smith for her time.

After getting into the car, Robbie asks his sisters if they want to go somewhere to eat lunch before heading back. Crystal suggests to Robbie going to Sal's and getting pizza. Rosie likes the idea and they head there. Finally arriving home, Dr. Brown is home and greets them when walking inside, Robbie tells him that this appointment truly made a difference. For the rest of the afternoon, everyone took it easy by watching TV and eating popcorn and cuddling up against one another.