Chapter 2 (Group)
The Cliffhangers sat around the picnic table under some pines waiting for Helen to begin their first group session. "So, she clipped a leash on him and left…" Auggie ended his recount of the previous day. They had all already heard the story or been there themselves. The new councillor aroused curiosity and distrust, interest and suspicion. The retelling of the first meeting would grow old in a few days. But it hadn't for the time being.
"Tell me, my man. Is she hot?" David asked, throwing a glance at Daisy. She stared back at him. Expressionless? Flushed? He had yet to work out the workings of Daisy Lipenowski.
"Flawless." Ezra said. "She has shoulder length black hair, deep grey eyes and a slender figure. She has a dimple on her left cheek when she smiles." He focused his eyes on the lodge's roof and sighed.
"It looks like Ezra has a bit of a crush on Wolfwoman." David once more turned his gaze towards Daisy. Jealousy? Relief? Nothing.
"Yeah." Auggie smiled. "He's been talking about her since she left."
Ezra blushed. Daisy immediately rushed to his defence. "I agree with him." She said. "Helen,"
"Wolfwoman." David cut her short.
"Helen, made quiet an impression." Daisy paused. "She's here."
The group settled themselves, staring at their new councillor inquisitively. They remained silent. All evidence of their conversation had disappeared like swallows in winter.
She hadn't brought Freddy with her. "Hey guys," she said pulling in next to Shelby, pushing her closer to Scott. "Sorry I'm late. Was just in a meeting with Peter and Sophie. Do they always carry on like that?" No comments. "Well, anyway. I'm Helen Woods. Hi David, hi Juliette. Sorry about the dog thing." Juliette greeted her back. David remained silent. She fiddled with a clipboard. "As this is our first session, we'll make it casual, get to know each other a bit." She said, settling herself. "Who wants to start?"
She was faced by silence. Calm yourself Helen, she told herself. You're new, you're the outsider. Unfazed she asked, "How were your holidays? Tell me briefly, as I am certain you have already talked about it to each other. Ezra? David?"
David launched into a story. "I had an great time. Casual sex, drugs…"
Helen stopped him. "I have results of weekly blood tests, sorry stud, you were clean all holiday. How about what really happened?"
David looked down, threw a glance at Daisy and stared over the mountains. "I was house bound. I played computer games and hung out around the pool."
"No fights?"
"No." he said, defeated. The group was silent. Shocked even, quick insight, sympathetic without over doing it.
"Juliette?"
She started, uneasily. "I spent two weeks at Auggie's. He has wonderful parents. I met some of his old friends and then he came to me for a week. We went to the mall, hung out. My parents took me to visit an aunt near Texas. She has a ranch, so I got to ride and hike a bit. I got used to it here, and I guess I missed it."
"You've put on some weight. I saw earlier photos. You look good. Very feminine, it suits you."
"Thanks." Juliette flashed a winning prom queen smile. Auggie placed an arm around her shoulders and gave her a little hug.
"Scott?"
He shifted uneasily. "My dad sent me to a summer training camp for football. The rest of the time I spent with my mom."
Helen looked at him. She had put her clipboard down and crossed her arms over it. "Did you guys get along alright?"
"Yeah. Great" he didn't offer anything else.
Okay, Helen thought. Resistance, they wont offer me anymore, for now, I hope. "Shelby?"
"I did nothing."
"Not at all?"
"No."
The challenger and the challenge, Helen said to herself looking at the young blond. Give her time, Sophie had said. Patience, Peter had offered. Listen to your elders, her grandfather had said.
"Auggie, how about you. After your time with Juliette, what did you do?"
"Not much. It was tempting, being alone, to go back to the old ways, you know? I didn't. I painted a lot and tried reading Harry potter. It was hard, so I saw the movie instead."
Everyone laughed, including Helen. "I preferred to movie anyway. What about you Daisy?"
Daisy looked shocked. "Me."
"Well, yes." Helen said, smiling at her encouragingly.
"I was with my Grandmother. My father didn't want me at home and I didn't want to be there."
"What did you do while at your gran?"
"I read mostly. There was little else to do. She taught me to play bridge, and on Tuesday afternoons I played bingo. I spent my holidays with the elderly."
"Great. I suppose your Tarot reading suffered a little." She looked at Daisy for a few moments. "I guess that leaves Ezra. I heard you dabble in writing."
He blushed and looked down. "Not anymore. I spent half the time with my dad. He was busy working so I didn't see much of him, my mom either for that matter. She has a new man in her life. I felt there was something waiting for me back here and couldn't wait to get back. And here I am."
"Yes, here you all are." Helen looked at the group and stretched. She was aware of Ezra's eyes on her and frowned. "Isn't it a beautiful afternoon?"
"As beautiful as they get." Daisy said.
Helen smiled at her, puzzled. Fascinating creature, no, bad councillor, bad, bad, bad.
"Daisy prefers the dark." David grinned. "So do I. Things that go bump in the night."
His comment was ignored. Helen looked out over the mountains. She felt several of the students follow her gaze. They watched a pair of eagles courting in the sky. "Is it true," she asked, "That eagles mate for life?"
"Guess so." Juliette said.
"They do." Shelby added.
More silence. What am I going to do? How am I going to reach these kids? No, they aren't kids. They are far from children. These are young adults. How was I reached at that age? Oh, the thoughts of a psychologist in therapy…
"Well, I guess that's enough for the first day. I'm going for a hike with Freddy. You are all welcome to join me, but it is not compulsory."
"I'll go with you." Ezra said a little too eagerly. "Daisy?"
"If not, why not."
"Me too." David added. "Nothing like a walk to ruin the appetite, and as you all remember, the food here is crap."
"Great." Helen said. "We'll meet at the woodshed in ten minutes."