The Drummer's Boy

Chapter 11. Time To Get Help

It was a rather, unusual day. Jon, George, & Barbara sat at the table, drinking tea. They all seemed to be getting along just fine.

George looked down at his arm & started tracing the cut lines with his finger. Jon saw him & kicked his leg. George looked up. "What?"

Jon stared down at his arm. "Stop that. It's... disturbing." He cringed.

George glanced over at Barbara. "It's not my... never mind." He shrugged it off. No need to stir up any more conflict. God forbid, this whole week was filled with conflict.

Barbara gave a weak smile at George & placed her cup of tea down gently. She folded her hands on the table. "I still think you need help George. I'm worried about you."

Jon laughed. "Aren't we all."

George crossed his arms & leaned back in the chair. He gave Jon a irritate look. "What is that supposed to mean?" He looked between Jon & Barbara. "Oh, I see. I am so helpless that Barbara became my friend & Jon is always there to rub my back. Hell, I probably won't even be allowed to leave this bloody house."

Jon shook his head & stared down at his tea. "No George, we just want you to get better. You're not helpless at all."

George stood up & kicked the chair he was sitting in. "You want me to get better? Than stop treating me like I'm fragile & might break at any given second." He stormed out of the room.

Jon followed him to the other room. He found George on the couch, crying into the pillow. He sat down next to him & gave him a sideways, awkward hug.

He grabbed George's hand & held it to his cheek for a few minutes. George rolled onto his back & Jon layed his head on his stomach.

Jon looked up to see a curious Barbara standing in the doorway. Her head rested on the door frame & she smiled, arms crossed. She beckoned Jon with her eyes to have a private talk in the other room.

Jon hated to leave George alone, but he got up & followed Barbara to the kitchen, again.

George layed there, scratching the pillow with his nails. He stopped crying, but his pillow was wet from when he was. He closed his eyes.

When he opened them, what he saw got him up off the couch in a matter of seconds. Barbara & Jon were kissing, inches away from where he was laying.

He blinked. They were gone. But George wasn't satisfied with what he saw. He stormed out of the room & into the kitchen. He found Barbara & grabbed a fistful of her hair & yanked on it. He spun her around & slapped her, multiple times, in the face.

"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?! A GAME TO YOU?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND! FRIENDS DON'T KISS THEIR FRIENDS BOYFRIEND IN FRONT OF THEM!" He screamed.

Jon ran up to George & grabbed his arms. George let go of Barbara's hair & grabbed the nearest chair. He picked it up & started beating Jon with it, swearing.

Barbara found her chance & tackled George to the ground. He was kicking & screaming but she held on to him with all her might. She started to rub his back. "It's okay George. It was just another hallucination. You're alright. We didn't kiss. I promise."

George went still. He pushed her away & got up off the floor. The tears were falling down his face as he tried to process what he did. He looked up at Jon, who, was so scared, he took a step back.

George shook his head. "I'm sorry. I thought you two really were kissing. I was mad. I didn't know. I didn't..." He walked over to the table & rested his hands on it. He began to repeatedly beat his head against the table, hard.

Jon rushed over & hugged him from behind. He caressed George. It stopped him from beating his head. He started to cry. He turned George around & pulled him into an embrace. Jon rubbed his back.

He looked up at the frightened Barbara. Her eyes were wide & filled with worry. Jon let out a long breath. "Call a therapist," he said to Barbara. She nodded & raced to find a phone.

George pulled away from Jon's embrace & shook his head frantically. "No. No. I'm fine Jon. Look at me! I'm fine. I'm alright. I'll be okay." He grabbed Jon's arms & started shaking them.

Jon shook his head. "You need serious help George. We're not therapists. But we'll find someone who is. Someone who can HELP you."

George continued to shake his head & Jon's arms. He looked into Jon's eyes, pleading. "Don't make me go, Jon. Please. I don't want to go. I don't need help. I can do this. You can help me." He blubbered out through his tears.

George fell to the ground & started rolling around, crying & screaming. It scared Jon. He never saw George this way before. He didn't even know what caused this to happen. George was having a mental breakdown. He really does need help. It was so scary to watch it happen.

Barbara raced back into the room, breathless. "I found a number & called the first therapist I found. Her name is Dinah O'Dowd."

George suddenly stopped crying & was quick on his feet. He wiped his tearful face & gave her a look of sudden unease. His jaw nearly dropped to the floor. "Dinah O'Dowd? That's my mother. The last thing I need is to be lectured... by my mother."

Jon rolled his eyes. "George, she can help you. She's a therapist AND you're mother. A double win-win for you. You know you're in good hands."

George crossed his arms & rolled his eyes back at Jon. "Please. I'll be lucky if I make it out there without getting slapped or screamed at for messing up my life. I already have enough of that from my dad."

Barbara sighed & put her hands on her hips. "Well, you have no choice. She's expecting you tomorrow morning in her office. You're going & that's final."

George rolled his eyes, again, threw his hands up in the air, & started walking away to the living room. "Whatever. I have no say in this, but I guess I have to go."

Barbara laughed & bit her lip. She smiled at Jon & leaned in to whisper, "He's in for a real treat." She winked & then laughed again.