Phoebe has Pantophobia

Phoebe never ever wanted to leave her house. As a baby, she would cry incessantly whenever her parents took her outside. Thinking her ill, off to the doctor they went. Not a single reason could be found for the child's ailment. They couldn't keep pets, Phoebe would scream and run away in distress. As she grew older, things got a little better, it was best to send her to school, her parents were advised. She had to acclimatize herself to people. Poor Phoebe was in constant distress. She had so many phobias.

Pantophobia. The fear of everything.

Samhainophobia. The fear of Halloween.

Scolionophobia. The fear of school.

Scoptophobia. The fear of being stared at.

Selenophobia. The fear of the moon.

Sociophobia. The fear of social situations.

Phoebe was scared of everything. Spiders, flies, worms, butterflies, cats and mice. She was scared of the dark, monsters under her bed, bats, bees and mosquitoes. She did not sleep well at nights. Phoebe once ran headlong into traffic when a leaf of the oak tree fell on her hand as she walked down the street, looking here and there for fears to feed her phobia, she had been scared of the many creepy fingers on the oak leaves. There had been a seven car pile-up that day, thank the stars no one was seriously hurt. Her poor parents had been traumatized and almost apoplectic, thinking they had certainly lost their only child.

The children at school teased her mercilessly. She always hid under her favorite tree during recess and lunch. Poor Phoebe was a nervous wreck.

"Phoebe, Phoebe, big fat babee

Run scaredy cat, scaredy cat run"

The adults tried their best to protect her. The teachers treated her kindly and were always making allowances for her many little idiosyncrasies. Her parents had exhausted all efforts at therapy, which Phoebe, incidentally, had a fear of. She did like trees a little, as long as the leaves didn't touch her. She liked them because she felt protected under the shaded leaves where no one could see her. Not on windy days though, that's when the leaves fell off.

One day as she sat under the tree hiding and having lunch, a tiny bird alit on her shoulder. Phoebe sat as still as a statue, her sandwich halfway to her mouth. She was stupefied with fear.

"Don't be frightened Phoebe". The bird said gently, hopping close to her neck and nuzzling it.

"I am a Bee Hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world. If anyone should be afraid of the world it should be me. Look at how very tiny I am. In comparison to you, I am but a grain of sand".

Phoebe got a little over her fear and fright and placed her sandwich back in the Tupperware. Finding her voice, she timidly spoke to the bird.

"I didn't know that birds could speak, you are so tiny. I have never seen a bird like you before".

"Normally you would not, I am native to Cuba as far as humans know. But the Bird Gods have seen your plight and have sent me to help you overcome your debilitating fears. Now that you are in high school, you will have an even harder time coping with life. My name is Minuet, and I have come to be your friend".

Phoebe knew that the tiny bird was right, and she really needed a friend, even if it is a tiny talking bird.

"Stick your hand out Phoebe, I will fit easily in your palm. No one else but you can see me, so I will always be on your shoulder when you need me".

Minuet hopped onto her hand and back to her shoulder.

"Now, finish your lunch while I speak further to You".

Minuet spoke to her about phobias and the ability to use her mind to redirect and refocus her fears into positive thinking and visualizations. How to use reverse psychology on the bullies who taunted and jeered her, without resorting to violence. As the bird spoke Phoebe felt her body becoming much lighter, she was releasing some of the stress and fear into the sky.

Too soon, it was time to return to her class. Minuet perched on her shoulder.

Phoebe walked timidly towards the entrance door. Brad the bully bounced her shoulder, saying 'freak' under his breath.

"Brad, you smell so bad". Sang Minuet. Phoebe was alarmed.

Two students passing by giggled when Brad looked around in horror. He frowned at Phoebe and hurried away. Phoebe smiled, already feeling a little better.

Back in her classroom, Janet the class 'princess', had placed a tiny dead frog in Phoebe's desk. Everyone knew it was her. It was not the first prank that she had pulled on Phoebe. Phoebe jumped back in horror.

"Janet did it. Janet did it. I saw her". Chimed a girl's voice from Phoebe's shoulder. Everyone was busy looking around to see who had spoken.

Janet spluttered and turned red. She got detention.

When Mr. Greyson asked a question which Phoebe knew easily, she was the brightest kid in the class, but was usually too shy to answer, Minuet whispered in her ear.

"Raise your hand Phoebe, it's ok". She did.

"Yes Phoebe". The teacher was surprised, usually he couldn't even get her to speak.

To the consternation of the class, she answered correctly. Nobody else had raised their hand, it had been a tough question.

After class Carla said "way to go Phoebe. Good for you". As she passed her by.

'Thank you Carla". Phoebe smiled, maybe she could make some other friends.

Phoebe's life was shaping into a phobia-less existence, one step at a time. Her little friend assured her that she would be with her as long as she needed her.

Whether or not Minuet is real, or a coping mechanism invented by Phoebe's mind to help her actualize, is entirely left to your imagination.

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