Athazagoraphobia [Richie Tozier]

3

"Hey Rich, wanna go to the arcade after school with us? It's half off token Tuesday!"
Ben asked excitedly.

"Uh sorry I'd love to but I'm afraid I'm gonna be too busy sc-"
Richie began.

"We get it Richie! Screwing one of our moms!"
Stanley snapped.

"Uh it's usually mine..."
Eddie innocently pointed out.

"Stan."
Bill said trying to ease the situation.

"No I'm done Bill! We can never have an actual serious conversation with you Richie! It's always some lame, dirty joke."
Stanley yelled.

Richie just stared at Stanley, he looked angry. But he knew where he was coming from.

"So, you have fun screwing my mom, we are gonna go play Galaga."
Stanley said ushering the group out the door excluding Richie.

Richie couldn't move. He stood amongst the sidewalk, not even blinking. Completely slapped across his face by Stanley's words. Sure he's gotten mad at Richie numerous times before, but never like this.

The club had noticed Richies jokes, were more constant than usual, but brushed it off. Eddie however, wasn't about to just shrug off his behaviour. Eddie had known Richie for the longest out of his friends. He walked along the sidewalk to the arcade guiltily he left his best friend behind, although he had to agree with Stanley a little bit.

—

"Hey Miss Mann."
Richie greeted the petite guidance councillor, sitting neatly in her desk, occupied with something in a file cabinet.

Phyllis Mann had short, dirty blonde, hair that just barely grazed her collar bone. She had perfect teeth, and a warm smile. Her skin had undertones of honey, and her eyes the colour of autumn leaves. She was in her early thirty's. And was only around five foot four.

"If it isn't Richie! Welcome back!"
The lady said in a soft, inviting, voice popping up to smile at the young boy.

Richie plopped his dirty backpack beside the black chair, and sat down.

"How has your day been today?"
She said leaning in closer to get a little more personal with the boy.

Richie and Miss Mann have become quite close in the last year or so. The year Richie finally decided he'd get some help. He was for sure hesitant at first, but he was at a breaking point, at least a guidance councillor would make it a little more manageable even if he'd never admit it out loud.

"Alright."
Richie said looking down.

"Just alright hun?"
She said with a concerned look on her face.

"Well I mean, I guess I just sorta screwed up with my friends, like I usually do a lot of screwing but I actually screwed up this time. You feel?"
Richie said nervously, but comfortably, as he didn't want to joke too much, even though she understands Richies reasoning.

The small lady thought for a few moments, trying hard to process what he just said.

"Richie dear, I need to know more to get the whole view on the situation if that is alright?"
She said settling for a further explanation.

"Well none of my friends really know about y'know my whole thing. Like I mean eddies mom does if you know what I mean, heh."
Richie started weakly.

"Carry on."
Miss Mann nodded confused.

"So I always have to come up with some sort of tale I guess to get them to understand why I can't hang out with them, when I actually have an appointment with you."
Richie added.

"So, I told another one of my jokes I guess, and Stan just sorta snapped."
Richie said, looking down, almost ashamed.

The woman leaned back in her chair and sighed.

"Richie, I know your trying your hardest, and I applaud you for that, cause your doing great! However, from what I have heard, I think your jokes are almost a coping method for your life struggles perhaps?"
She suggested.