Chapter three
The diagnosis
"Who's this?" Landon asked as he entered the living room. A bald, fat man looking every bit a shrink, sitting on the end of the couch, looking Landon up and down, surveying his every move. Some thought he could make a diagnosis just by looking at the person – that's why Landon's mother had called.
" This is Dr Hemroide", she said, getsuring to the man. Landon started to laugh, but the look his mother gave him shut him up. Landon felt like a little kid, even though he was about to open a beer can he had been impatiently waiting to open and sat down.
"He certainly has a sense of humor", Dr Hemroide said as he got out a pen and paper. He turned to face Landon, and judged his communication poorly before he asked him a few questions.
"……So how long has it been since she passed away?" The question Landon had been dredding. He didn't understand why he had to see a shrink – there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. Besides, he was a growing man, and he didn't think his mum had to call a shrink just because he had been a little out of the ordinary.
"3 or 4 weeks", he shrugged. He looked at the clock hanging above the doorway. "I've really got to go- another class".
Landon stood at the door, expecting to shut the door behind Dr, but the man just stood there and asked if he could have a private word with his mother. Landon sighed and concentrated on finishing his drink. He stood, the can vertically suspended over his mouth as he heard muffled whispers coming from the kitchen.
"It may be too early to say", the Doctor started "but I think we're looking at depression". Landon crumpled his can in his fingers, and a drop of blood fell on the floor. He heard his mother start to sob, and he braged into the kitchen and looked everyone in the Doctor in the eye. Sympathetic eyes stared back at him. Landon didn't want pity. Right now he felt angry, not depressed. He wanted to punch the doctor right in the face and run off. He couldn't face it any more. He slamed the door behind him, got in his car and drove.