\u201cGood morning, Joseph. Guess what? You won a special award!\u201d Mendez wiped a puddle of drool from the table, possibly his own.<\/a><\/p>\nEach morning, the two orderlies gave Joseph a gold star sticker. They\u2019d learned this made him happier and \u201cbetter than any other boy in the whole world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anything to keep his temperature down.<\/p>\n
Joseph was startled by the voice, thinking he heard the drone of an old vacuum. His back straightened, his panicked eyes shifting between the two men. But seeing the gold star and their smiles (or near smiles), he sprang to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey! Glad you could join us. We\u2019ve got an epic day on tap.\u201d His own smile blinded them, teeth against cognac skin.<\/p>\n
And welcome to everyone out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAb-so-ute-ly.\u201d He puffed out his chest to receive the award.<\/p>\n
\u201cFabulous conditions lining up this morning, yeah boyz?\u201d said Joseph, staring to the far side of the room. \u201cJust look at those soft, white walls coming in from every direction. Clean lines on hand, for sure. It\u2019s shaping up to be a day of magic. It reminds me of August 2019 at Lower\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s interesting, Joseph,\u201d replied Salazar, trying to mimic a look of interest. \u201cLet\u2019s get ready for today\u2019s session. First, how \u2018bout we put those crayons back in their box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Box!\u201d Joseph squealed. \u201cDid you know that during the winter swell there in 2013\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
He proceeded to share names, dates, numbers, and strings of nonsensical phrasings that Dr. Rielly ascribed to fluent aphasia, the psychiatric term for disorganized neural patterns that manifest as incoherent speech patterns. Neither orderly noticed.<\/p>\n
Salazar kindly grunted (possibly another type of aphasia) for Joseph to put away the crayons and he did. One was missing.<\/p>\n
\u201cSalzy. Mendezo. How\u2019d I do? Just thinking about the way I dropped that last one in so late and snuck it right into the slot gives me chills!\u201d Joseph wrung his hands until they were hot.<\/p>\n
The two orderlies met eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201c8.6?\u201d Mendez offered with a synchronized shoulder shrug.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat score bumps me into the excellent range. All right!\u201d Joesph leaned back into his chair, almost tipping back.<\/p>\n
Salazar reached for Joseph\u2019s arm to get him moving.<\/p>\n
But unexpected change typically alarms many patients with cognitive impairment and the potential change of scenery certainly alarmed Joseph. He was most comfortable in that chair, watching the action in the water, recording his numbers. The idea of moving to the session room caused the centipede scars across his temporal lobes to redden. Thinking for a moment, Joseph brightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess we could,\u201d he started cautiously, \u201cif that\u2019s the call for this morning.\u201d He ramped up the speed of this reply until managing a happy sprint between words. \u201cConditions could be firing in the session room. Let\u2019s go!\u201d His teeth again blinded the room.<\/p>\n
The session was typical for a Monday. An overstuffed linen chair faced Dr. Rielly\u2019s. A medium-sized cooler of snacks was placed beside Joseph\u2019s chair. Behind, floor-to-ceiling glass gave sight to a full sky and blue water. Salazar and Mendes stood close enough to constrain the guest (but not too close as to spill any errant drool.)<\/p>\n
The doctor walked in. His smart loafers, cashmere blazer, and heavy round glasses put him in category with a gay Swiss architect, which he enjoyed. He sat in his chair, pretzeling his legs, leaning into Joseph.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, Joseph,\u201d Dr. Rielly opened, placing a light squeeze to his knees.<\/p>\n
Joseph smiled. \u201cGreat to have you in the booth, Reillzy. Today\u2019s going to be off the charts!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sound nasally,\u201d the doctor inquired slowly, thoughtfully. Are you hiding a crayon in your nostril again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJoseph?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. But the Midnight Blue gives me my voice, my flair. I\u2019m Special.\u201d He started to rock in his seat. Did you see I got an award?\u201d Joseph swung his chest around like a show girl.<\/p>\n
After a few seconds the gyrations stopped as Joseph\u2019s mind wandered out the window. \u201cCan I have my napkin?\u201d The action\u2019s epic in the water right now. Still waiting for scores to drop. Still waiting for the scores, for the scores,\u201d he repeated in sync with a back-and-forth rocking.<\/p>\n
Dr. Rielly lowered his glasses to glance out the window then back. \u201cJoseph, let\u2019s just breathe for a moment. I want you to count to ten with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTen? It\u2019s not impossible with the wonky conditions we\u2019re experiencing today but a tough order to fill. I bet you didn\u2019t know that Pythagoras\u2014no, wait, Parko\u2014 thought ten was the perfect number. For him numbers were matters of the soul. Did you know that in Haleiwa back in 543 BC\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Rielly rubbed his temples. \u201cJoseph, we are in need of a course correction here. I feel it\u2019s time for you to hear the truth. Your scores came back from the test.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFantastic. Let\u2019s see those numbers light this heat up, Reill-o.\u201d<\/p>\n
The doctor slid his chair even closer to face Joseph directly and reattached his delicate hands to Joseph\u2019s knees. It was supposed to be a non-verbal way of connecting with guests. Taking the expert\u2019s lead, Joseph placed his own hands on the doctor\u2019s knees. They stared intently at one another.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you remember, last week you took the PANNS psychiatric assessment. Results show a 9.66.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joseph punched the air with his fists, breaking free of their stare. \u201cIn-cred-i-ble! This is absolutely one for the record books.<\/p>\n
Mendz? Salaz-o? What do the boyz think about what we just witnessed?\u201d<\/p>\n
Before either could respond, Dr. Reilly interjected.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, Joseph, these scores represent a person in considerable mental distress. A person who has lost grip on his reality in favor of one fabricated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joseph went silent for a rare moment, cocking one eyebrow in confusion.<\/p>\n
The doctor reached for the inside pocket of his blazer and extracted a manilla envelope. \u201cJoseph, we\u2019ve been in contact with your grandmother. She gave us some material that will shed light on your situation and you need to listen carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cGam-gam. Love her. Raised me. Did she send my report card? Got a B+ in fifth grade math. I\u2019ve got a thing for numbers, averages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yes,\u201d Dr. Rielly acknowledged dryly. \u201cA high-water mark, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour grandmother wrote of an incident that might shed light on your condition, Joseph. She shared that when in eighth grade you were denied entrance to a junior surfing competition, open division.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrue, only because I can\u2019t surf. But they asked me to be the host of the whole event! Imagine that? The voice of surfing. I\u2019m special, I guess.\u201d Joseph looked down at his gold star. \u201cThat\u2019s where it all started. That day, I became the voice of professional surfing. Owe it all to Gam-gam,\u201d he beamed as his leg started pumping like a piston.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the contrary, Joseph, your grandmother said that you cried behind the competitor\u2019s tent, eating wax balls as you spied on the other surfers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGam-gam! That witch! I\u2019ll stick a knife in her ribs\u2026\u201d His arms swung wildly as he jumped from his seat.<\/p>\n
Mendez and Salazar muscled him down into the chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cCalm down. Count to ten,\u201d Salazar implored.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can only go to eight,\u201d Mendez yelled through his drool.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Joseph,\u201d Mitch said as he pushed a small paper cup to Josph\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n
Seeing the cup, Joseph immediately calmed. \u201cBrew Break time!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s clonopine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFan-tas-tic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within a minute, Joseph sat undone.<\/p>\n
The next morning the sun lifted to show a bright blue sky lost over perfect glass. Joseph sat scribbling his numbers on napkins observing the actors in the water. Dr. Riely stood silently beside him and picked up from where they had left.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoseph, your fantasy has run aground,\u201d the doctor said, still looking toward the water. \u201cTo get better, you need to face reality.\u201d His voice was soft. \u201cLet me take you down there so you can get a good look for yourself. You need to see the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sitting up, Joseph turned to the doctor defiantly. \u201cLet\u2019s go, Rielly. Then I can show you the action up close. Everyone in their suits, ripping. They all know me. Love me. I\u2019m the voice of surfing. They\u2019ll tell you,\u201d Joseph responded, his lips pursing.<\/p>\n
Dr. Rielly walked to the door, opened it, and swung his arm down the hall to let Joseph lead the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cHold on, Riellzy. You can never have enough skin protection from the big orange in the sky, am I right?\u201d Joesph said as he liberally applied apple sauce taken from the cooler.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you know that the first sunscreen was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just go.\u201d And with that, the two headed down to the shoreline.<\/p>\n
Once planted on the sand, they watched the actors sliding in and out of waves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you see, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n
Joseph started pointing rapid-fire to the surfers. \u201cThere\u2019s Pottz. That\u2019s Ross over there. And Kalani. He\u2019s my best friend. And Fletch\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Rielly, his training exhausted (and loafers damp), turned and struck him across the face, a cross-cutting blow that whipped Joseph\u2019s neck around. He whimpered.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook! These are not surfers. You are not the voice of anything!\u201d The doctor screamed into Joseph\u2019s face clearing it of all apple sauce.<\/p>\n
And for the first time in twenty-six years, he allowed himself to see that these were in fact not professional surfers but shining black harp seals looping around the waves. And for the first time, his heart went as cold and silent as an atheist\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Dr. Rielly allowed Joseph to process his reality. After several long minutes, an empty-faced Joseph whispered to the doctor. It was earnest and solemn.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like another Brew Break now, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joseph dipped his head and shuffled his feet back to Westgate, leaving crayon and napkin in the sand.<\/p>\n
The next morning, Salazar and Mendes went to retrieve Joseph from his room for the daily session with the doctor. But when they entered there was no trace of the guest, just a napkin on the table and an open window. Mendez picked up the napkin and sounded out the letters. Eventually, it read:<\/p>\n
Boyz,
It\u2019s finals day and I\u2019m combo-ed. I\u2019ve decided to leave Westgate in search for a new
chapter, a new life. Where I\u2019ll go, you\u2019ll never find. I don\u2019t need any supporting cast.
You\u2019ll never see me again.
Love,
Joseph
P.S. \u2013 I\u2019ve taken the gold stars and sunscreen.
P.P.S. \u2013 Give my best to the doc and Slatz in room 53.<\/p>\n
They rushed over to the window and looked down. There, seven stories below, was Joseph, lying bloodied next to a buckled aluminum ladder.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoyz?\u201d he looked up.<\/p>\n
In quiet admiration, both men leaned out of the window to show Joseph the palms of their hands then they slowly extended every separated finger they had toward the sky.<\/p>\n
Tens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For the first time, he allowed himself to see that these were not professional surfers but shining black…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":48877,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[64,63,128,338],"class_list":{"0":"post-48876","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wildlife","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-science","11":"tag-wildlife"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48876"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48876\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}