Alisabe
"Even as a child these things happened?"
Another day another doctor.
"And are you taking any controlled substances on a regular basis?"
Do I look like a druggy you fool?
"Has she visited any mental doctors?"
Oh god no! Mommy wouldn't have it! My condition is STRICTLY medical, not mental. And STRICTLY confidential. Of course not! Why would you ever assume such an asinine thing! And doctors are supposed to be smart…
"Alisabe! Answer Doctor Riez!"
No mommy, I don't think I will…
"Is this how she looks when she has a…fit?"
A fit?! That's the most technical term for this condition that is constantly ruining my life?! A FIT? If I were to go down onto the floor and kick and scream that would be a fit…
"Not exactly. No. She always has her eyes opened."
Well no duh, mom. Would you close your eyes if you were in my position? I don't think so. You would want to see every little thing that is going on so you can remember it and attempt to translate this moronic mess of a life I lead. That's why you do it with your eyes OPENED.
"I see."
"I don't think you do, Dr. Riez. You can never see until you have seen what I have seen."
"Well look who's talking now!"
"Yes, and precisely what is it that you see when you have a fit, Alisabe?"
A fit?! You moronic waste of human flesh! You can never know what this is like!
"Alisabe! Talk!"
Oh ho ho! Daddy is going to exercise his authority now, is he? Well, for thirteen years something as always been more important than me and now, ta-da! You lay down the Sports Illustrated and step back into my life. No, daddy, I don't think I will talk. I like it in my head just fine…
"Dr. Riez! We are so sorry! She'll talk, won't you Alisabe?"
"What shall I say?"
"You can start by describing the way you feel when a fit is starting."
"Can't we talk about the weather? It's so much more pleasant."
"Alisabe."
Ooooooh! He's mad! I forgot how mad you get daddy!
"But wouldn't it be pleasant to find a cure for your condition, Alisabe?"
"Dr. Riez, there is no cure."
"How do you know? I haven't even researched it yet! You haven't even told me your symptoms or anything! You can't know that there is no cure. We'll find one for you, Alisabe!"
Well look who's a little ray of friggin' sunshine! Dr. Riez, you are the fourteenth second opinion we've gotten on my case! All the other doctors said that there was no know cure. Well, I know of one, and sadly enough its suicide. I'm not planning on taking that cure right now…
"Alis…"
Oh how foreboding, Doctor, your voice trailed off. That doesn't frighten me one little bit. My face is blanching, my eyes are wide opened and my spine is erect. How scary. At least I won't have to describe to you my 'symptoms.' None of my doctors have ever seen my condition in action. Hang on tight, Dr. Riez. Here we go.
The floor plunged away before Alisabe's opened eyes. She is falling, falling, falling. The shelved walls of the rabbit hole give way to a long hall, lined with doors and tiled floors. Keys and cakes and poison bottles that taste deliciously of pineapple custard and roast turkey dance before the child's eyes. There is a girl, as always, who looks like Alisabe but is distinctly sinister waits at the end of the hall.
"Look into the past to gain knowledge of the future, my child!" The sinister Alisabe calls in a musical voice. Se reaches out a long arm but Alisabe is already running. She is climbing, climbing, climbing. Up the rabbit hole and past the shelves of marmalade, back to the examination table in the doctor's office. She lies down and peers over the edge of the table. That was close! The sinister Alisabe's fingertips are barely visible where the rabbit hole just was.
And they won't even see it.
The fools! How can they learn if they can't see what I see? Oh! That imbecilic Doctor and my confounded parents! They're shaking me and yelling. Don't they know that I'm pondering books without pictures and chains of daisies? Hee-Hee! In my own little wonderland…yes, wonderland.