Tuesday, March 15, 2011

beware the ides of March



I am so sorry that I've been late with this entry. The weirdest thing happened to me this morning. I thought everything was going so well. I was on time for work and found a place to park and was walking up the stairs to my office not even aware of having unlocked the door and unsetting the alarm. Well, I supposed there were others that had gotten there before me. I couldn't remember who my first client was but I checked my book and it was someone new so I was glad I was early.
His name was Mort Thanatoid which I thought an unusual name but hey. He was on time and was in my room before I quite realized it. I thought my door was locked but I guess I'd released the latch without thinking about it.
He was dressed from head to toe in the worst suit I've ever seen. Don Cherry is the epitome of fashion compared to this dude. Perhaps his problems were related to his sartorial malfunctions. The suit was wool, dark with a fuzzy sort of grey line through it and he had on a grey shirt and a string tie. On his feet he wore black keds. I know this could be considered cool and even fetching but him - no. He looked hot and itchy in the suit and I felt myself remembering the clothes of my youth - all too short or too itchy or too something. I gestured to a chair but he took the one I usually sit in. I was going to ask him to grab another but I felt oddly compelled to keep quiet.
I sat across from him and asked him what he desired from the session.
He smiled and said nothing.
Ah, I thought, a social misfit of a certain type. I smiled back at him and said nothing.
This continued for forty minutes. I kept my composure throughout and so did he. Sometimes new clients need to prove something and I was willing for him to let it play out.
I say it was forty minutes but when I looked at the clock I saw that the hands had fallen off and lay in the bottom resting against the glass front. Ah well, I'd bought it as a cheap retro knock-off and I supposed it had served me well enough. I checked my wrist and realized I didn't have my watch on. Darn it! Ah well, at about the forty minute mark (when you've been in this line of work for over twenty years believe me when I tell you - you know your hour) he gestured to the door almost as if I were the client and he the therapist.
I suppose by then I'd had enough.
"Mr. Thanatoid - if you'd like something from this session you will have to speak."
He smiled in that infuriating way once again.
Then he spoke.
He opened his mouth and I saw the stairway down to hell. He whispered and the trees outside my window fell down, my ear drums burst, all the paintings and photos on my walls tumbled down, and I felt myself turn to ice. Although I couldn't hear him, not properly, I knew what it was he said.
He said "Now."
And I needed no further explanation.
So, as I said - I'm late.

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jan - Oh, now that is an intriguing story!! I love it! Thanks :-).

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Literally a client from Hell. A truly riveting ending. I believe whatever we expect death to be, we will be surprised at the true reality of it. Life is often like that. Why not death? A great entry, Roland

M Pax said...

Intriguing story. Liked the imagery of the hands falling off the clock and all the other things slightly wrong.

Itchy, hot clothes would be hell. :)

RosieC said...

Oooh... creepy. I'm shivering. Well done, Jan. *Cringe* That's one reason why I'm not in your line of work... :)

Hart Johnson said...

Oh, this was great, Jan! until you said your clients name (which I knew you'd NEVER do) you had me at the explanation... Silent, tacky death... *sigh*

alberta ross said...

Fantastic - well done

Golden Eagle said...

What an ending! I loved reading your entry. :)

Colene Murphy said...

Oooh! Awesome stuff! Pretty frightening! ;)

Jan Morrison said...

Thanks y'all. I was late outta the gate but I'm having fun getting around to everyone. I'm at 30 I think!
Jan Morrison

Anonymous said...

I got hooked right from the beginning. I couldn't read it fast enough! Great post.

Joanne said...

Good grief, I hope there'll be a followup to this ... I want to hear the details on how you escaped the stairway to hell, thawed and made it back!

Jen said...

Well, this gave me a delightful little shiver over tea!

Wonderful!

Cheers!
Jen

Helena said...

I want to know about the stairway to hell! So now you have to write Delusional Doom Part Deux.

Very good!

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

Oh, great piece and unholy twist to the tale! ;)

best
F

Anstice Brown said...

This was awesome! Loved the ending.

Jan Morrison said...

Thank you all! And for poor delusional ones that think I make it out OK, unscathed. Uh, no. I'm late - get it????
isn't this a fun creepy party?

Laura Eno said...

I started itching when I read this. :) Loved looking down his throat at the stairway to hell!

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

This is great! It took me in before I realized what was up.
I forgot all about this Hop. I'm such a jerk. :[
Your story is really unique though.

Unknown said...

That was really good. Reminiscent of Meet Joe Black. Great ending. Loved the poetry in the last few lines. So, are you truly a psychologist? What a fascinating job.

Draven Ames

Tina Laurel Lee said...

Love this! totally got sucked in (haha, didn't intend that pun). Love how you did the magical realism!

Jan Morrison said...

Thanks guys - oh don't worry Mary - you've got a lot going on!!!
Draven - I'm a psychotherapist or as the phone co. got it one year pschyo therapist. And they didn't get why I was annoyed!
Tina - thanks - ha ha!

Gina Ciocca said...

That was great! Though I hope when death comes for me, he's hotter and better dressed. It would make the whole bursting of the eardrums and turning to ice a little easier to take!

Amber T. Smith said...

Oh, this was spine chiiling-ly awesome! Loved the 'twist', which I expected, yet DIDN'T expect at the same time (if you know what I mean).

Great post, Jan!

Amber T. Smith said...

Oh, this was spine chiiling-ly awesome! Loved the 'twist', which I expected, yet DIDN'T expect at the same time (if you know what I mean).

Great post, Jan!

N. R. Williams said...

Spooky! Great story, you sucked me in and held me for the whole thing.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium, Special .99 through April 30

Southpaw said...

Very cool. I like easy pacing to lull us into a sense of just another day scenario.

Trisha said...

Wow, this was very creepy!! Great writing :)

LTM said...

ooo! Jan, that was FANTASTIC! It reminded me of Heroes--remember the clock guy? And a great Stephen King story--although I've only read one of his stories and was scared so badly, I've never tried again...

anyway, LURV~ :o) <3

dolorah said...

I love all the "normalcy" in this. So many routines we take for granted in ordinary life.

This had such vivid imagery. A marvelous post.

........dhole

Jan Morrison said...

Thanks all! this happy camper is going to bed and praying my day tomorrow isn't anything like what I imagined! This was way fun - let's do it again. How about in April? I know - an alphabet blogfest - yippee.

Amanda Milner said...

Loved the stairway to Hell in his mouth! Chilling!

Ellie Garratt said...

That was genius! I loved the way you fooled us into thinking it wasn't your doom entry and then it was.

Jan Morrison said...

thanks Amanda and Ellie. Gee, I feel a certain fondness for having genius applied to a piece. this could be addictive.
Back back oh silly ego - I'm slaying you!

Jesse said...

I quickly thought of Matt Damon sitting in front of Robin Williams in 'Good Will Hunting', not saying a word and the brilliant acting by both of them. That's what popped to mind when i read it anyway. Love you ma..xxoo

Angela Scott said...

Very creative! You had me going there for a minute :)

Laura said...

Loved this - gorgeous writing. Nicely done :)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

By the way, I've got your free fall method on my blog today--it's getting good reviews! :)

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