Allergy Season
“ It would be a brave thing to do .”
In the counselor ’ s office across the lobby , Elizabeth overheard a squeaky voice piping out a tale about a schizophrenic aunt . Something about light bulbs and the Chinese ambassador . This was interesting . And that voice . She knew that voice . Kelsey Sutherland from Latin !
“ Sometimes , I don ’ t know , I just feel as if she had all this going for her and she turned out this way . It ’ s not fair . And everyone tells me how alike we are . They mean well , I know . But it scares me ,” Kelsey confided . The scratch of a wooden chair leg on glistening linoleum echoed over to Elizabeth . She could picture Kelsey rocking back and forth just as she did in Latin class , her knuckles white from clasping the chair arms , her uneven hair slipping out from behind her ear as she pushed it back again and again .
The counselor cut in : “ You ’ re strong . You ’ re a good person .” She paused and then curtly inquired : “ Elizabeth , are you even listening to me ?” Recalled to her own session , Elizabeth replied blankly . “ Yes .” “ Now I want you to just , just go like this .” The counselor placed her own arms , palms upward , straight in front of her , her hands like butterfly wings , the sides of her wrists touching . Her elbows were a few inches apart and she rested her forehead above her elbows on her arms . Elizabeth didn ’ t react . This didn ’ t deserve a reaction . “ Elizabeth , where do you see yourself in five years ?” Biddeford , Maine . Elizabeth thought . Where the snow falls into the sea in winter and I can feel it crunch under my boots and nobody knows me . Nobody at all . “ I don ’ t know .” “ I think this needs to be weekly . Don ’ t you , Elizabeth ?” “ Maybe so . Maybe not .” “ Next Wednesday then ?” “ I suppose .” Minutes later on her way into Latin , Elizabeth walked by a red-eyed Kelsey Sutherland who was dabbing her nose with a Kleenex . Entering the classroom across the hall was Trevor , his disheveled hair flopping into his face . For an instant , the three counselees ’ eyes met . Half smiling as she passed them , Elizabeth didn ’ t expect a response .
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