The Psychologist  Part 2
by M.C.
Shannon helps Larry clear his final hurdle


Larry was very nervous as he drove to Shannon's office for his weekly
appointment. He had been seeing her for a month now and felt he had overcome
all of his problems regarding his domineering attitude towards women. His
relationships with the females at work had dramatically changed for the
better. So much so that even Claire Jordan - his boss - paid him a compliment,
something she rarely ever does. He also had a real girlfriend for the first
time in his life, Jane; a woman he felt he was falling in love with. But
Shannon, his therapist, knew that in order to be completely free from his
past, Larry had to clear one more hurdle - and this was a big one. He had to
confront his parents about what he saw in the basement that fateful
afternoon. That was the day he accidentally came upon his parents boxing in
the nude and watched as his big, tough macho father - whom he idolized up
until that point - get beaten up and then humiliated by his much smaller
mother. It was an event that adversely affected both his relationship with his
parents and his view of male/female relationships for the next 15 years.

" I know it won't be easy Larry," Shannon told him at the end of their
previous session," but until you exorcise those feelings you got when you
watched your mom pound your dad into submission, you'll never be completely
cured of your problem. So I suggest you invite your parents to come here next
week and we'll hash this out. Trust me Larry, clear this hurdle and you're
home free."

After a month of seeing Shannon, Larry did trust her but he was nervous
nonetheless. He had never told his parents about what he saw in the basement
that day. When he called them up to invite them to his session, all he could
say was," it's about something important." Loving him as they did, they agreed
to attend. As he neared her office Larry found it difficult to hold on to the
steering wheel of his car; such was the level of his anxiety. It was only with
the greatest amount of effort that he was he able to make his way into her
office." Three o'clock exactly," Shannon said with a smile," have a seat
Larry." He looked around and his heart sank, his parents were already there.

" I actually invited them to come a little early Larry," Shannon explained,"
so we could get to know one another before you arrived." Larry took a seat as
far away from his parents as he could. " Why don't you move a little closer
Larry," his therapist said. His experience with Shannon told him this wasn't a
request; he moved closer. " Well then, let's begin shall we. Ms. and Mr.
Williams, about 15 years ago your son inadvertently came upon a scene in the
basement of your home. Because this had a rather dramatic affect on him for
the next decade and a half, I believe it's something we need to discuss here,
out in the open. In my professional opinion, it would be a great benefit
to him if we did so. Larry, would you like to begin ? " Again, he understood
that this wasn't a request but Shannon's subtle way of telling him that he
would begin the discussion. He swallowed hard, then began...

" Well...you see...it's like this...do you remember one day I came home early
from a baseball game and you two were down in the basement ? " Mary and Stan
Williams looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

" Can you be a bit more specific son ?" his dad asked," we work out down
there quite often, and we are talking about a rather long time ago."

Larry bit his lip, then said," the day that you - mom - kicked the shit out of
my father ! "

A moment of silence followed before his mother asked," which particular
time do you mean Larry ? I've done it so many times I've lost track."

Larry stared dumbly at his parents, and they stared back; both were confused.

" Perhaps I went about this the wrong way," Shannon interceded," maybe we
should try a different approach. Ms. Williams..."

" You can call me Mary if you like."

" O.K. Mary; can you please describe your relationship with your husband for
us ? I think that might help get us started in the right direction."

Mary Williams, a very attractive women in her mid-50's, smiled at her husband
as she began to speak. " I first met this lovely hunk of man in college. We
were both athletes. I was on the women's basketball team and ran track and he
was a light-heavyweight boxer and wrestler. I had the hots for him the very
first time I laid my eyes on him. For days I wondered how I could get to meet
him. Then one of my girlfriends on the basketball team mentioned to me that
she saw him working out in the gym late at night on several occasions and that
might be a good time for me to go in there. I took her advice and that very
night, around ten, I went to the gym. Well sure enough, he was in there
- and by himself - punching away at the large bag. I then realized that this
was the perfect opportunity to meet him. As I approached him, I thought about
what I was going to say ? "

" Excuse me. Are you Stan Williams, the light-heavyweight boxer ? "

" That's right, what can I do for you ? "

 " My name is Mary Stevens and I'm on the women's basketball team. My coach
mentioned to me that boxing might be a very good way to improve my hand and
foot speed. So I was just wondering if you might be able to give me a few
pointers on the manly art of boxing. "

" Sure," he said and my heart skipped a beat. He helped me put on a pair of
boxing gloves and we climbed into the ring. " Now, try to hit me." Although I
had never boxed before, I had trained in karate for many years and knew how to
spar. " Punch ! " I surprised him with a lightning quick jab. " Hmm...not bad,
for a beginner. Now try again." Again I got through his defenses and connected
with a quick jab. I then faked another jab to his mid-section, forcing him to
lower his guard. When he did, I hit him with a right cross squarely on
his nose.

" Oooops, sorry," I giggled.

I could tell he was getting frustrated. After all, he was the
light-heavyweight boxer on the university's boxing team and was quite a bit
larger than me; and certainly much stronger. After a brief pause he said, "
O.K. then Mary, I can see you know what you're doing. Let's do some serious
sparing now."

This was not the way I had planned it. I really didn't want to set him up;
just get to meet him. But  once the sparing began in earnest, the competitive
athlete in me took over and I completely forgot the purpose that I came in
there for. All I could think about now was winning; knocking him out. My years
of karate training, my natural athletic ability, plus my drive to win, all
came into play. Though he was larger and stronger than me, I was faster, much
faster. It wasn't long before I had him backed up against the ropes and was
pounding away at him; wearing him down. He was reduced to just trying to
protect himself from my onslaught; he couldn't even throw a punch. I couldn't
believe how easily I was beating him. Then, " WHAM ! " I hit him with a solid
right uppercut to his jaw and he went down like a lead balloon. Though still
conscious, he was obviously stunned. It was then that I remembered the
reason I came there...and my heart sank.

I helped him to his feet and apologized. Without another word being spoken
between us, we removed our boxing gloves and I quickly left the gym; certain
that I had blown it. But the very next day, during basketball practice, he
shows up with - and this is the killer - flowers...flowers ! I beat up the
university's light-heavyweight boxer and the next day he brings me flowers ? (
Mary reaches over and playfully pinches her husband on the cheek ). I was
flabbergasted. He then  asked me out on a date; provided I give him a rematch.
Well, I did give him a rematch that very night...and kicked his ass again. So
he took me out, and we've been together ever since - 37 wonderful years and
counting." The two of them looked at each other like giddy teenagers.

Shannon then turned to her husband. " Mr. Williams..."

" Stan, if you will."

" Stan, you were a champion boxer and proud athlete. And yet this little girl
walks up to you and easily beats the crap out of you. How is it that you were
able to swallow your pride and approach her the next day, with flowers no less
? "

The large, well built man - looking nothing like his 58 years would suggest -
gathered his thoughts for a few moments before he began." After she floored me
that night I was indeed in a state of  shock. After all, I was a damn good
boxer, a golden gloves champion, how could this pretty little girl beat me up
? As I roamed around the campus that night I got to thinking though. She
didn't throw any sucker punches, hit me below the belt or anything like that.
She beat me fair and square; plain and simple. Perhaps if I hadn't
underestimated her, things might have turned out differently. But she was so
quick. I'd never fought against anybody that fast before; nor as
beautiful. The more I thought about her the more obsessed with her I became. I
had to see her again, I just had to. The flowers were my way of saying 'no
hard feelings'. After she beat me again the following night, I arranged for
her to fight the heavyweight boxer the night after that. When she knocked him
out, I knew I had to have this girl in my life; and I have loved her ever
since."

Larry was looking down at the carpet as his father spoke. He had absolutely no
idea about any of this; he felt he was seeing his parents for the very first
time. " Larry," his mother said softly," I know this all must come as a
tremendous shock to you and I believe we owe you an apology for not saying
anything about it before. But we weren't sure how to explain it to you; or how
you'd take it if we did. We tried to protect you but I guess we did the wrong
thing. I know you idolized your father and seeing me beat him up in the
basement that day probably traumatized you; for that we're both very sorry."

" You also humiliated him after you knocked him down mom; you made him lick
your pussy."

Mary and Stan looked at each other and sighed. " That was just part of our
routine son," his father said. " Early on in our relationship we decided that
whenever we boxed each other, no matter what happened in our fight, we'd
always make love afterwards. That way there wouldn't be any bad feelings. The
winner - which was usually your mother - got to chose how. She likes to sit on
my chest and make me lick her pussy; I prefer the *regular* way. It's a system
that has worked effectively for 37 years now."

" But don't you feel humiliated when you get beaten up by a smaller woman dad? "

" Larry, from time I first met your mother in the gym that night, I've loved
her more than I thought it was possible to love anyone or anything. Perhaps it
was in my nature to be attracted to a strong, powerful woman; perhaps it's
also yours. I understand this new girlfriend of yours - Jane - is something of
a martial arts wiz. I only hope that you'll be lucky enough to experience
what your mother and I have had going for us all these years. It would have
been silly to let ego or false pride get in the way of something so
wonderful."

A moment of silence followed and then Larry got up and approached his parents.
The three of them then engaged in a long hug and, when they finished, they all
had tears in their eyes." Thank you Dr. Thomas," Mary said as she looked over
at Shannon." Thank you for helping our son overcome a problem which we,
however unintentionally, helped to create. We are all very grateful to you."

" No problem Mary, that's what I'm here for. Well Larry, it looks like our
work here is finished."

" Will I ever see you again Shannon ? " he asked, making no attempt to hide
his disappointment.

A broad smile appeared across her beautiful face. " You know Larry, I have a
sneaking suspicion that you and I will be seeing each other quite often over
the next few years...although in a much different setting."

" What do you mean ? "

" You'll see," she winked," have a nice day."

As Larry got up to leave Shannon's office for the last time he noticed the
wall hangings; something he  hadn't paid any attention to before. There were
the usual ones you'd expect to see; B.A., M.A., Ph.D., but what really caught
his eye was a large plaque in the center of the wall. 'Crestview Country Club
- Family Golf Champions', it read. Larry glanced at the photograph in the
middle...and his jaw dropped. For there, staring back at him in the
photograph, was a large woman whom he immediately recognized as his boss,
Claire Jordan. She had her arms wrapped around the shoulders of two women, one
on each side - her daughters. The one on the left was Shannon, the one on the
right...was Jane.