Angie of the Garden

Chapter Five-3

Dr. Simms found it difficult to turn these people away, but as a professional there was no choice.
His daughter became his most enthusiastic fan. Annabelle invited her friends over to watch her father appear on The Robin Wainscot Show. His only child managed to convey the impression that she was proud of him without ever using the word. Olivia was also impressed by his success, though she made light of his new career at every opportunity. Still, his wife did not fail to notice how the dapper doctor swayed the callers and the audience with his thoughtful analysis of the problems that were presented to him.
Even Mildred Price drove over to Fairhaven to congratulate him. That was, in his opinion, the greatest compliment he had ever received, since the dear old lady risked both her life and her chauffeur's by doing so.
The only negative reaction came from Alec Collins. His peer made it known to everyone who was inclined to listen that Doctor Simms was sacrificing the dignity of the profession by practicing psychiatry on a talk show. He likened it to fast food, only now the product being offered would affect the mind, not the body. Alec wrote an editorial on the subject that appeared in The New York Times. Olivia and Annabelle were furious. Hollis simply shrugged.
"The man is entitled to his opinion. And I have to admit that his argument against doing the show has merit. Though I intend to avoid the pitfalls he mentioned."
Frank also railed against Doctor Collins. He watched his employer on television, even asking Hollis for his autograph, ostensibly for his daughter.
"You don't need no damn Ph.D. to know what jealousy is, Mr. Simms," he told the doctor after reading the article.

"If you don't start calling me Hollis I'm going to start calling you Mr. Martin."
"Oh, right, I keep forgetting. Do you want me to put some sugar in his gas tank the next time he's here?"
"No thank you. I appreciate the gesture, of course, but it would only prolong his visit."
"I didn't think of that."
Sebastian was also enthusiastic about his brother's success. He made sure the television set in the bagel shop was tuned to The Robin Wainscot Show whenever Hollis appeared on it.
His first day began with several calls dealing with what psychiatrists refer to as life problems. These are difficult circumstances that can stress a person with even the strongest of emotional constitutions. Yet there is nothing psychologically wrong with the person who is confronting these dilemmas. The doctor could offer little more than his sympathy. He knew of no technique capable of removing their pain. Hollis began to wonder if he had made a bad decision.
Then a woman who could not cope with the passing of a distant relative called in. Hollis sensed immediately that there was more than a death of a third cousin causing her despair. He spent several hours casually probing the caller's history. The director kept signaling for Robin to put a stop to this much longer than anticipated conversation. She refused; the host instead mimed the words we'll edit it later. Wainscot was far too impressed with the Doctor's ability to analyze the caller's feelings to interrupt him. Doctor Simms detected guilt in the woman's voice and inquired about her past.
"So how did you decide to become an accountant?" he asked at one point.

"Well, I was thinking of playing the violin professionally, but my parents almost freaked. And they were right. There are relatively few people in the world that can pay their bills with a violin."
Simms saw the woman as someone who was greatly influenced by her parents. This suggested a scenario he was familiar with.
"When you were a child, did you lose someone close to you?" he asked her.
"Why, yes. My Aunt Fay died while visiting us. She was fine one minute, and then gone the next."
"How old were you?"
"I was six, I think."
"And how did the people around you react?"
"They were sad, of course."
"I meant how did they treat you?"
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
"Were your parents impatient with you?"
"There was one day when my mother yelled at me for spilling a pitcher of
lemonade. She said...she said I caused all the problems in the house."
"And the most serious problem at that moment was the loss of your aunt. So she
inferred you had caused it. You probably subconsciously believe you were responsible for your cousin's death as well, even though you've grown well beyond the little girl who caused all the problems in the house."
The woman on the phone let out a sob. When the studio audience listened to a truncated tape of the phone conversation there was not a dry eye among them.

"I can't tell you that the loss of anyone you've known, even casually, will ever be easy to understand, or to bear," Hollis told her. "But you should recognize that it wasn't your fault. Sometimes adults inadvertently give the wrong message to children, and often at the worst possible time."
The woman thanked him. Hollis gained a great deal of satisfaction from the session. His decision to appear on the show had been justified. Later that same day a conversation with another caller demonstrated the wisdom of his decision to talk with those seeking his advice before the show.
"Doctor Simms, I have an unusual problem that you may be able to help me with," the man began.
"Can you describe it to me?" Hollis asked.
"You're going to think I'm putting you on, but I'll tell you anyway. I'm being visited by a woman from the future."
For a moment Hollis believed he had received a waggish call. Yet there was something in the man's voice that imparted sincerity. Doctor Simms decided to continue the conversation.
"You've made an extraordinary claim. Can you substantiate it?" "Not really. I don't have any physical proof."
"How long have you been seeing the woman?"
"About three years."
"And you've decided it's a problem only now?"
"Well, Doctor, it's not really my problem. My boss found some illustrations I drew of the future that were based on her description of it. I had to tell him where the idea for them came from. He thinks I should talk to someone about Avalor. That's the woman's name. I saw you on a commercial for this television show. I thought you might be able to help me. Can you?"
"So you're only contacting me because your employer instructed you to." "Yes."
"And you'd be willing to have your call broadcast on television?"
"Sure. I've got nothing to hide."

The confidence of this caller impressed Hollis Simms. He was quite comfortable telling a stranger about the visitations, and was even willing to have millions of people hear his story. Doctor Simms believed this person would feel very differently after realizing the woman he mentioned was a product of his delusions. Simms knew Robin would certainly want to put him on the show; the entertainment value would be enormous. Hollis was only concerned with helping the caller, however.
"I think your situation deserves a different approach," he told him. "I'd like to see you in my office."
"What about the cost? My health benefits might not cover your bill."
"I won't charge anything for the first meeting. It will be a consultation." "That's the right price, Doc."
He provided the man with his phone number. Johnny Mueller summoned Hollis
and Robin to his office after the call was completed.
"People, this guy is a gold mine," he began after the host closed the door behind
them. "The people will eat this up with a spoon."