The Bad start

Neither of the two girls wanted to go. The quiet girl's mood sunk at the idea of another lecture, and more education. More useless facts. The girl who was throwing a temper tantrum usually loved facts. She as usual just felt a need to be the center of attention. Which unfortunately at the moment she was. The mother tried to hold her head up high. The therapist had said it was better just to ignore her, but she was refusing to enter the aquarium. The mother appeared calm, but inside she was shaking. The agitated girl was too young to be left on her own, the mother let the quiet girl, go in on her own.

She, Anna, all of a sudden thought a trip to the museum sounded good. She just wanted to escape the present chaos. The museum shifted her mood instantly. An inner peace replaced the stress that had occupied her mind. She was surrounded by water and salt water animals. She felt as if she was one with them. She went and stood by the glass which separated them. An eel brushed up to the glass as if it was welcoming her. Anna wished she could swim with them. A realm of peace. None of them seemed to be in competition. There was no battle for survival. They were playing with each other and having fun. She was the only person in the tunnel. She went and started talking to the eel as if it was her dog. She wished the glass wasn't there. She wanted to interact. The eel followed her as she walked down the hall. She stopped occassionally to talk with the animal. She wished she was living like in the film "Bed knobs and broomsticks" Maybe she could become a mermaid, or just swim and dance with the fish. Anything soothing and relaxing, where her main goal would not be to hide. To engage instead of withdrawing from her surroundings.

When she exited the museum she was actually smiling. Her family was sitting outside by the dolphin tank eating ice cream. She shared nothing about her experience, and did not request an ice cream. her main goal was to keep the inner peace she was feeling and to return home. The less family interaction the better.

In her dreams that night she was swimming with the eel. She took a bath in the cool water in her tub and sang along to the song under the deep blue sea.

The next morning she awoke in peace. The house was quiet. She was the first one up . She went downstairs and listened to "Maybe this time" She sang and danced to the song. Maybe she would find someone she could swim and interact with in a peaceful manner. Thinking positively, she got ready for school and headed out the door.

Every week the three of them would have family therapy. Anna met her mother and sister there. She took a cab from school. No occurrences from the week were discussed. Anna found herself talking just to fill the silence. Thinking back years later she wished she had shared the horror stories. The constant temper tantrums of her sisters were never mentioned. The nightly bedtime arguments were never discussed. Her sister would curl up like a ball during these sessions and say nothing.

Somehow out of these family meetings, it was concluded that Anna needed therapy. She was in shock. In her mind she was the only one in the family who was not crazy. Maybe in their mind she was the only one who could be saved.