Page 125 of Where Do We Go From Here?
W: You know. Like normal people.
K: Some people’s normal means never drinking at all. And others drink so much they drink themselves to death. There really is no normal. And if you find you need to stop drinking completely then it’s important that you don’t consider yourselfabnormal because of that. Because that’s very, very common. Alcohol, as I said, is a drug. And for many people it’s a very addictive, unmanageable drug.
W: OK. Right. Got it.
K: But if you do fall off the wagon, as you say, then please do come back to me, and we can talk about options.
W: What kind of options? D’you mean like rehab? Because I don’t think?—
K: No, not necessarily. There are support groups. There are methods that can be useful. Strategies. Books I can recommend. There are even some new drug regimens that can help with the cravings. With the depression, too, if that gets difficult to cope with, you must come back and we can talk about options for that.
W: OK. I’m OK for now, I think, but OK.
K: But as you said yourself, I really do think you’ve gotthis. Not everyone can do it on their own. Different people’s bodies – their psyches – work differently. But so far, you’ve shown quite extraordinary resilience. You’re doing extremely well.
W: Gosh. OK.
K: You sound surprised.
W: No, I’m just feeling… I don’t know…
K: Pride? You look like you’re feeling pride.
W: Yes. Maybe. Flattered, at any rate.
K: Well, good. You really should let yourself feel proud. This capacity you have for knowing yourself is quite rare. So I’d say, make the most of it. And that’s probably a good point to wind up our first session, don’t you think? Unless you have any other questions.
W: No, that’s fine. Is this where I have to pay you?
K: Yes, this is where you have to pay me.
W: OK. Worth every penny. Well, every pound.
K: Well, I’m glad that you feel that way.
Sue and Neil
Sue opens the front door almost the second that Wendy knocks. ‘Hello, hello!’ she says, sounding a bit too enthusiastic – sounding like she’s making an effort. ‘Come in. Come in! Neil’s, um, tidying the garage. I’ll go and get… Oh, here he is!’
Wendy steps onto the doormat. It has an imprint that reads ‘I hope you haven’t come empty-handed’ and she has indeed come empty-handed. She wonders if she should have brought something. She notes the hallway has changed colour again, this time from off-white to pale hospital green. She thinks she preferred it before.
‘Hey, sis,’ Neil says, stepping forward to hug her quicklyand rigidly. The result is more like being patted down by a security guard.
‘Gosh, we were so surprised to hear you were back, weren’t we, Neil?’
‘Yeah. I thought it was mid April.’
‘Come through, come through!’ Sue says. Wendy wonders if she’s going to say everything twice today.
‘So why’d you come home early?’ Neil asks.
‘Ah, I’m full of surprises, me,’ Wendy says, aware that this doesn’t really answer the question. She follows Sue through to the dining room, her brother close behind.
‘Tea?’ Sue asks as Wendy removes her coat. ‘I’ve just boiled the kettle, so…’
‘Yes, tea would be good.’
‘Did you drive, or…?’
