Therapist's therapy

Hope

The water park was too quiet. Arianna worried that it won't be as fun as she expected. Instead of tourist and children roaming about and the atmosphere buzzing with yells and laughter, it was empty with only men in suits standing at designated corners talking into walkie-talkies and shop owners looking nervous.
Travis on the other hand looked fascinated. He whipped his head left and right taking in all the stands, decorations and colorful banners. He was like a toddler visiting an amusement park for the first time. Arianna's fears subsided. He would be easy to impress.
Although she had asked them to dress casual Travis still wore a button up shirt. Jasper on the other hand understood the mission. He wore a baggy shirt and cargo pants, across his chest was a cross bag which contained a walkie-talkie he talked into whenever he spotted someone trying to take a picture. Arianna wondered if he would allow her take a picture.
Arianna took out her brochure where she had scribbled and written down her plans carefully underlining fun spots to visit.
"Let's visit the rides first" Arianna led them around the park like the leader of a boy's scout. They arrived at the roller coaster minutes later. It was massive and with its curves it looked like an octopus.
"People ride that thing?" Travis asked terrified
"How have you never visited a water park before?"
"He was a sheltered child" Jasper answered on his behalf.
"Don't talk big you were sheltered too" Travis defended.
"Alright no more excuses let's do this!" we filled into the car. With Travis insisting he sit in the middle, with I and Jasper at his both sides to shelter him in case of anything. When we were strapped in, the controller bid us good luck and started the ride.
The ride went so fast Travis didn't have time to scream he just looked like he was trying to hold back tears while Jasper looked like he was about to vomit. Subconsciously they had locked hands united in fear. Arianna threw both hands up and screamed. They looked at her like a suicidal maniac.
When they arrived at the end of the course, it took thirty minutes before Travis and Jasper could break out of their daze and another for them to stand on their two feet.
"How do people enjoy this?" Travis asked when he finally regained consciousness.
"You are the weirdo here, how can you not? The fear and feeling that if anything goes wrong you can actually die is the thrill!" I declared.
"How are you in charge of his sanity?" Jasper asked maintaining his composure as if the ride never happened.
"I need to keep one feet at both sides" I said with a shrug like the answer was so obvious.
"I hope we are going home now I could use a drink"
"Home? No way that's just one down nineteen to go" I said referring to my brochure.
"There are more of these torture devices?"
"Nobody calls them that" I corrected. Jasper took my brochure and scanned it.
"How about we take a lunch break and watch the water dance that doesn't sound like an attempt to you know,end our lives"
"Fine" Arianna groaned ignoring the fact that that was cutting through half of her plans.
They made their way to a wooden bench interconnected with a table with an umbrella. There were already a lot of snacks and drinks laid out before they arrived.
"We are visiting a park and you brought your own lunch? I was hoping we would try out the cinnamon rolls." I complained.
"You can if you like" Jasper said sitting beside Travis and handing him a bottle of coke.
"My grand ma didn't have time to make your lemonade so this will have to do, don't worry it's from the fridge at home" Travis nodded and took it. It was the first time Arianna heard Jasper refer to Matilda as his grand ma.
"I can't just eat anywhere, it's not safe" Travis said after draining his glass
"True" I pouted as Jasper handed me cinnamon rolls wrapped in aluminum foils.
"So, how are things at the office" I asked Jasper. Travis flinched.
"It's not really any of your concern" Jasper responded not looking up from his fish pie. Travis shoulder relaxed.
"I want to know" Travis said some minutes after. Jasper looked surprised either at Travis asking, or him wanting to talk about it in front of Arianna.
"Well, it's the same, your mom taking care of things, it's tense with your grandfather watching her every move and having to make excuses as to why you are not there" Travis stared at the empty bottle in his hand a lot of thoughts going through his mind "I wish we were together, it's not fun doing things myself" Jasper added draining his glass of coke.
Listening to that Arianna understood why Travis was so angry at her badmouthing Jasper. He was a good guy and a great friend; she thought he was more like a brother. Most of all, Arianna felt bad for Travis. His mom made him look like he was seriously disturbed. Yes he was more angry than a normal person but Arianna thought he was better.
"I think you can go to the company" she declared.
"What?" they both chorused shocked like Arianna had asked him to jump off a cliff.
"I think you are better and a little office work won't hurt"
"Its been only four days there no way I'm suddenly better" Travis argued.
"Not with that attitude you are not. Therapy is not a life commitment. It's not going to be written in the sky that you are better you just have to practice, and practice with real life"
"But my mom won't let me unless there is concrete proof that I am better" he looked at Jasper to back him up.
"Then we just need to prove it" Jasper said looking excited.
"You are in this too?" Travis looked at him in disbelief.
"Yes! If this goes on as it is you will wait your entire life. I don't believe there is anything wrong with you and we just need to convince everyone else!" the way Jasper said it made it look easy. Although Arianna had brought the idea she had no idea had to carry it out.
"Fine, I'm in! but if anything goes wrong?" Travis declared still skeptical.
"we will handle it when it happens" Arianna began "now all we need to focus on is making it happen"
" I know the best time" Jasper declared
They spent the rest of the afternoon planning. The water dance and cinnamon rolls long forgotten.

Hehe🙂how was it?