The Onset

Part 5(Joanne's POV), Continuous from part 1

Joanne’s heart was racing on her way to the school. She barely noticed the boys engaged in horseplay as she came through the front entrance. Although she had been there frequently, Joanne never knew if there even was a school psychologist at Michael and Malia’s school. She approached a security guard to ask for directions.

“Where is Dr. Akins’ office? I have an appointment.”

“Make a right at the end of that hallway. After that it will be to your right.” Joanne thanked her as she continued down the hall.

As she walked briskly towards Dr. Akins’ office she began to put two and two together. Michael was yelling the other night. He thought he was speaking to somebody else. Somebody who wasn’t there. And he was awake. Now she has to see a psychologist about Michael. She never got a call from the school about Michael. She took a deep breath and exhaled before knocking at the door. An older woman opened.

“Dr. Akins?”

“Yes?” the doctor responded.

“I’m Joanne Windsor.”

“Okay, please come in.” After she entered, Dr. Akins poked her head into the hallway and waved over an officious security guard. Joanne saw her son slumped over on a chair with his face in his hands in front of the doctor’s desk.

“Michael, what’s going on?” Joanne asked. Michael said nothing. He was sweating through his clothes.

“Not yet. We’ll talk,” the doctor said softly.

Michael turned his head and for a brief moment mother and son looked each other dead in the eyes. Joanne made it apparent that she was looking for answers, extending both arms diagonal to her body, palms out. What is it, Michael? He couldn’t look at her very long. He turned away. The security guard quickly showed up in front of the doorway.

“Could he sit in the security office for a while?” the doctor asked the officer ever so delicately. “I need to speak to the mother in private.”

After the guard took Michael away, mother took a seat in front of Dr. Akins’ desk, sitting upright at the edge of the chair. The psychologist, being the bearer of bad news, took a seat behind her desk. Mother braced herself for the news she dreaded.

“Okay, I’m going to get straight to the point. Your son seems to have had or currently is experiencing some sort of psychotic episode and I think I should refer him to a psychiatrist.”

Joanne sat silently. She had a very good idea of what she would hear. Nevertheless, it took a good amount of time for Dr. Akins’ statement to register in her mind.

After a moment, she swallowed loudly and asked, “What makes you say he had an episode?”

“Well, I spoke to Michael, and, he seems to have a very strong conviction that he saw something that didn’t really happen. You see, I’ve been a clinical psychologist for many years and when I interview people like this I can deduce when they have hallucinations as opposed to them confusing their thoughts with what they sense.” Joanne did not exactly know what she meant by that.

“Um, did he hurt anybody, or—”

“—No, he did nothing like that.” the doctor reassured her. “This is not a disciplinary issue. We’re just concerned about his mental health.” She sat back in her executive leather chair and formed a diamond with her hands. “Tell me, have you ever caught him using drugs?”

“No.”

“Then in that case, his psychosis could be full-blown.” Joanne began to grow a little impatient.

“I’m sorry—could you tell me exactly what happened?”

“Well, Michael claims his calculus teacher walked up to him in the cafeteria during lunch and threatened to kill him and r**e both you and his sister. The calculus professor then pointed to a table in the distance where the school police officer sat beside, now get this, a long-deceased philosopher.” Joanne knew what she was talking about from the instance the other night at home. She continued to listen intently. “According to Michael, the philosopher whispered something into the school officer’s ear; thereafter the police officer brandished his g*n in Michael’s direction... Michael made quite the scene about it... He was very distraught. It took a while for us to calm him down.”

“Could any of these claims be true?” Joanne asked. She knew they weren’t, but sort of hoped they would be.

“The calculus teacher didn’t even come in today. And nobody saw... Officer Wesley, that’s his name, in the cafeteria during the lunch period.”

Joanne sat quietly and thought to herself for a moment again. The kind of thoughts that are not coherent or rational. Those nebulous thoughts that, ironically, govern people’s decisions. Especially the tough ones. She thought back to earlier that day in the ward. She remembered that patient in the seclusion room. She pictured Michael’s face on the body of that patient. And thought of how much pain that would cause her, seeing him being wrestled down and restrained. Not her son. No. Not her son.

“So, you’re suggesting my son see a psychiatrist, and, possibly, take medication?” Joanne said peevishly.

“Yes, a psychiatrist would be able to do a more thorough evaluation.”

“I’m sorry doctor, but I can’t let that happen. My son has a bright future ahead of him and I can’t mess that up for him.”