"And just when it seems that I'm really getting appreciated and my play is starting to take off on its own, Olga has to come home. And no, she couldn't come home normally, she needed to get such good grades that her degree was completed a semester early." Helga growled. "Oh B, isn't Olga so brilliant?" She imitated her mothers slurred voice. "Oh yeah Miriam, she's a stinkin' genius! She's a Pataki, and Patakis are winners!" She deepened her voice to imitate her father, making an overly dramatic fist pump to add to the mockery. "Just...of all times why, why does it need to be now?" Helga moaned as she slumped back in her seat.
A woman was writing something down on a clipboard.
"Well Helga." She began after her patient finished. "From what you've told me your teachers and the other students all seem to like your play. You even told me Arnold liked it."
Helga broke out of her reactionary dream gaze whenever she heard his name and began to respond.
"Yeah, that's true, and...don't get me wrong I do appreciate it, but why of all times does Olga have to come back now? It's not like I don't have enough to deal with! Now I have to worry about her? Now she's going to my play and she'll be the center of attention as usual, while I who worked like a dog on that play will fade into non-existence. Oh, and to make matters even worse, Olga's bringing her boyfriend too, so all will be wondering who this mystery man is, and the plot I worked on will collapse like a house of cards!" Helga growled.
"Helga, from what you've told me about your sister, Olga does give you more attention than your parents do and genuinely does seem to care about you, even if it might not seem that way to you. I think it would be best if you just sat your sister down and made her listen to your concerns openly and honestly. Remember that she went to Alaska for you."
Helga remembered that episode last year. Olga actually listened to her. But then again, she also remembered the "Big Sis, Little Sis" program with Lila when Olga seemed to listen to her, only to make her row their boat afterwards.
"She also made me row her stinkin' boat!" Helga growled, relaying those feelings.
Dr. Bliss broke out a small smile at her patient.
"I know it's difficult Helga. But if the situation is as you present it, and you're as concerned about it as you are, you really have no choice but to try and talk to Olga. You need to tell her that it's your time in the spotlight, and how hard you worked for it. Tell her that you will really be hurt if she tries to upstage you. If she truly cares about, she will listen."
"That's what Arnold said to me once." Helga said shyly, looking down as she twiddled her thumbs.
"He's a smart kid." Dr. Bliss smiled.
"Yeah..." Helga continued shyly.
An air of silence descended on the room. This incidence was not uncommon in their meetings.
"What about Olga's boyfriend?" Helga finally asked.
"What about him?" Dr. Bliss quizzed.
"Like I said, mom and dad are going to be wondering who the mystery man is. It might even be that they're going there tomorrow night to meet him rather than see me. Not that I didn't expect that once I found out, or anything. But it still..."
"I understand, Helga. But your classmates certainly notice all the work you've put in, and your sister did come back specifically requesting to see you on stage. If you talk with your sister, she can probably tone down his entrance."
Helga stared out the window for a while.
"You know...I did hear Olga talking to him on the phone last night. She seemed so happy...and she told him about me and that she was excited for him to meet me."
Dr. Bliss smiled.
"See Helga? Maybe things will be better if you try to give them a chance. I know this is a big adjustment for you to make right now, but the alternative is to be hostile and unhappy, and I don't think either of us want that."
The session ended and Helga breathed a sigh as she walked out of the office. She would have some things to discuss with Olga before the big night.