The Middle Child

The Middle Child by Angela Marsons

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Authors: Angela Marsons
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down at her feet.  She didn’t want to say the words.  It hurt her to have to admit to a stranger that her husband thought she was incapable of being a mother.
         "Would you like some coffee?" Emily asked.
         Catherine answered that she would in an effort to play for time.
         "I’ve added a good measure of truth serum," the doctor said as she placed mugs on the table.  Catherine noted they were emblazoned with the emblem of Shrewsbury Town football club.
         "I’m uncomfortable with this…situation," Catherine admitted. 
         Emily put her notebook aside.  "What exactly do you mean by this situation?"
         "Sitting here talking to a stranger who has been paid to listen to me.  It feels unnecessary."
         Emily nodded.  "Of course it does.  I’d expect nothing less from someone who had come to me of their own volition.  What you’re feeling is understandable.  Within this room you can say as much or as little to me as you like.  I have plenty of thoughts in my head to fill the silences such as do I prefer Pasta or a Sandwich for my dinner.  I can think about how poorly my favourite football team played last night or, now listen here because it’s important, I could actually be thinking of the best way of helping you overcome your problems.  It’s your choice."
         Despite herself, Catherine smiled.  Emily’s manner was somewhere between abrupt and firm yet she found herself warming to her forthright attitude and kindly eyes.
         "So, tell me what event prompted your husband to decide that you need help?"
         That was easy enough, Catherine decided.  Maybe if she relayed the story precisely Emily would understand exactly why this was a waste of time for both of them and money for her.
         She relayed the whole episode, detailing their fight, word for word, in the kitchen.
         Emily was thoughtful for a minute.
         Catherine filled the silence as she felt inclined to do.  "Do you see how unreasonable he’s being?"
         "Your husband seems to feel that you need help in two areas.  He feels that you need to come to terms with what happened in your childhood and he feels that you have no connection to your children."
         "That’s right," Catherine said, mortified at the absurdity of his accusations.
         "And you think he’s wrong?"
         "Of course."
         "Why?"
         Catherine suddenly felt frustrated.  She had just explained the whole situation.  She’d explained about her work and how important the promotion was.
         "You’re already siding with him," she said, defensively.
         "I’m not siding with anyone.  You’ve explained the catalyst for your husband’s feelings and concerns but you disagree with him so I’m only asking for your side of the argument.  Why are his observations unfounded?"
         "Because I love my children."
         "Be specific," Emily instructed.  "You’ve given me an actual event from your husband’s viewpoint but a generalisation from your own.  Give me an example."
         "Well, I cook the breakfast, iron their clothes.  I make sure that their Gym bags are ready for school, I…"
         "I’m after something a little bit more but we’ll leave it for now.  If you had to rate your achievements so far in your life from one to ten, where would you fall?"
         Catherine thought about the question and decided to answer honestly.  "Probably around an eight."
         Emily nodded.  "When you visualised what your life would be as an adult, what did you see?"
         Catherine remembered her dreams.  "A husband, children, a good job, a nice home."
         "So that would be your ten in achievement?"
         "Yes," Catherine nodded.
         "So why isn’t it?" Emily asked, frowning.
         "I don’t understand."
         "Everything that you dreamed of you already have so if that was your ideal dream, why isn’t your

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