| |
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Hey Doctor, how are you doing?
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
I'm better, thank you. But what happened to you, Alex? How did you get that bruise on your forehead?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Oh that. I got it the other night at the club. Do you remember that guy I thought was following me? Well, he showed up again. This time, I was dancing at the club--I was going around wiggling and shaking my stuff trying to get people to put money in my little string thing. Thank god that Benny was right there next to me when it happened.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Alex, please, you're speaking rather quickly. I need to ask you to slow down. That bruise is awful. Is there more besides the one I can see? And what are you talking about? You dance for money?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
I thought I told you about that. Well see, I go over to the club and get into the strip show sometimes, so I can get some cash. And since my mom is still away and I ran out of money, I thought I'd just go over there and do my thing. Benny says I should get into porn or something. He thinks I could really make it doing that, but I don't know. It sounds kind of fun, but still...well...I mean, I'm not even old enough to dance yet. But as long as they don't know, then I'm okay. Because I'm so tall, they think I'm older, you know? I figure the more stuff like that I do, the better the chance is to get caught and I don't want to get the people at the club into any trouble. So, you know, like my mom is still on her little trip, and here I am needing some money, and I don't want to ask my aunt for any because then she'll make me stay there at her house, and I don't even want to go into that. Yeah, so this bruise, it's pretty bad, isn't it? Everyone keeps asking me about it. I wish it would just go away.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
It's bad, Alex. Why don't you take a deep breath and then slowly tell me what happened?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Anyway, here I am dancing around the bar and stuff, and a lot of these old dudes are shaking their dollar bills at me and grabbing at me and stuff. I was having such a good time, too. So this dude, you know, the one who was following me around? Well all of a sudden, there he is and he grabs my little g-string thing and yanks on it, nearly tearing it off me. And just then, Benny notices that something isn't right. So Benny tries to push him off me, you know? Then, you know what the fucker did? He grabs me and then he looks straight into my eyes. And I knew right then. I knew.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
You knew it was him? The guy you had assaulted? Alex? What do you have under your coat? Did I see something move under there?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Oh, yeah. I hope you don't mind. I had to bring her with me today. I didn't want to leave her at home since the house got broken into yesterday. I came home to find the place a mess. Her cage was turned over. She was in total shock It took me all night to get her to calm down. See? She's my baby. She won't hurt you. Her name's Darla. Darla, meet Doctor B. Here, want to pet her?
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
No, thanks. You didn't tell me that you had a pet rat. Did you just say your house was broken in to?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
It was. I couldn't believe it. And my mom is going to kill me when she gets back. I can't tell if anything was taken. I mean, they didn't take anything of value, if they took anything at all. The computer and the TV are both still there. None of my leather jackets were touched. It's real weird. She's going to think that I had something to do with it, you know? She always assumes the worst of me. But the place was a mess. It took hours for Benny and me to clean it up.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Did you have the police take a report?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Yes, I did. Aunt Sofie's real upset about it. She didn't want me to stay there by myself. But I'm like, okay, here we have a door that's broken and no way to fix it. And I'm going to leave the place so someone else can come in and rob us? Hello? No thanks! Plus, I've been so wound up this week that I'd just keep her up all night long.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
I understand. Is Benny or Roly staying with you?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Benny stayed over last night. He may stay again tonight. I'm not sure.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
What about that bruise? Let's go back to that.
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
So anyway, here I was in the hands of this freak of nature. I must have really messed him up bad, Doctor. He looks slightly different from what I remembered. His face is twisted sort of. Anyway, he's got me by both my arms and he looks into my eyes. I recognized him. And then, he head-butts me! Just like that. Wham! Head-butts me! He just slams his head into mine, and I am out. Totally out of it. When I came around, I felt like one of those cartoon characters with the little stars popping all around my head and the curly lines twisting up above. And all these people and this hunk of a paramedic guy were surrounding me. And Benny and Roly both were gone. Later, they told me that they went after the guy and that he won't be bothering me anymore. I don't know what they did, but I haven't seen him since.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
It sounds fortunate that Benny and Roly were both there. You don't know what they did to him?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
No. I don't really care. I hope they killed him or something, you know? Some people...I was telling Benny that this is why I'd rather do dancing than turn tricks--some of these guys are total freaks. I'm sure you can guess by now. Oh shit! Doctor, I'm sorry.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
What are you sorry for?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Well, I wasn't paying attention, and now she's gotten loose.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Loose? What do you mean?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Don't worry, man. She does that, you know? She'll run off or climb down or something. Oh, there she is! She climbed up on that little credenza thing you have there behind you. It's a good thing you don't have a lot of stuff for her to rummage around in.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Alex, I'd appreciate it if you could keep her from doing that again.
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
It's cool. I got it under control, man. Hang on a second, dude. Darla, come! See? I just make this little clicking noise with my tongue and bend over a bit, and she'll jump right up on my shoulder. See? She's such a little show off.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
You have her well-trained. That's very impressive, Alex. I've never seen a rat do something like that before.
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Yeah, she's very smart. It takes no time to teach her new stuff. But this jumping thing, I didn't teach her. She just started doing it on her own one day. I made the clicking noise connection by accident. I figure there's something that she likes about that sound that makes her do it. One time, she missed and jumped right over my shoulder and landed on the floor behind me.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
I hope she wasn't hurt.
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Not at all. I was more scared about it than she was. Oooh! Ouch!
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
What is it, Alex?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
I just got one of those sharp headaches I've been getting since that jerk head-butted me. They hit in an instant. And then just as quickly, it's over.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Have you seen a doctor yet?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Only that paramedic man. You know, that guy even called me the next day to check up on me. And he wanted me to take his number down. So I did. I might call him again. Pretty nice of him, huh?
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Rozzi:
|
|
It was a nice thing for him to do. You said a minute ago that you have been all wound up. Is it because of this incident at the club? Or did that episode from two weeks ago ever go away?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
No. I was all tensed up before that. Yeah, I think I've been this way on and off now for a while. It's so funny. Here I am all energized all night long and then, when it comes time to report for that purgatory slave labor, I suddenly get work-apnea!
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
That's an interesting way of putting it. But what do you mean exactly? How long has this phase been going on?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Well, about two weeks now, I think. Maybe even before I last came here to see you. But it's just because of all the bullshit that's been going on--the freak of the month following me around and stuff. And my mom being gone...although that's not such a bad thing. It's just that with the place getting busted in to and all. So here I am. I'm hyperventilating and stuff there while I'm supposed to be picking up trash. And my heart's all pounding away like it's going to jump right out of my chest or something. Well, I guess I'm just wound up, okay? It's happened before. No biggie.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
We talked a bit last time about these hyperactive stages you go through. Well, here's what I'd like to suggest. I think you ought to go to a doctor and get checked out--maybe a neurologist. These headaches could indicate something more serious. Hyperventilating and pounding heart are a bit suspect as well. Now, when does you mother return?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
She's back today or tomorrow. I'm not sure exactly. Damn Doctor, I don't want to go to the neurologist.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Hmm. Do you have a regular physician?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Yeah. Doctor Witzig.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Would you be willing to go see him? These headaches really concern me. It would be a good idea to get thoroughly checked out. Alex, I hope the headaches concern you too.
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Well, they do kind of. I guess I can call him.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Good. Perhaps you can give him my telephone number? Also, would you have your mother give me a call?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
I knew this was coming! Shit. I don't want her talking to you. She'll just get you all confused and shit. She's good at that, you know?
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
That's okay, Alex. She won't confuse me. I would like to talk with the both of them. Will that be all right with you?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Well, I'll tell her. But I'm not making any promises that she'll call you. I'll tell the doctor, too. He's cool. I don't care what he tells you or what you two talk about. Why do you want to talk to my mom?
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Your mother has been an important person in your life, Alex. I'm not implying that she has always done right by you, but I think it is important that we bring her in on some of our discussions. I think it might help me to help you solve some of your problems.
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
I'm warning you, Doc, she's something else. She will try to manipulate you and control what happens here. So far, she's been pretty good about this. I'm surprised she hasn't already tried to meddle in this. Hell! She might even try to get you in bed or something. Or she'll do something to get you going.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Don't worry about me, Alex. I can handle your mother.
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Don't say I didn't warn you. She's the mistress of manipulation. Particularly if you're male. She likes it that way. Boy, I'm glad she's in Canada. It's actually been nice having her away like this. I could really get used to this. I look around the house and think how great it is to have a little bit of sanctuary and privacy. Yeah, I'll tell her to call you. It would be interesting to see what she'll try to do to you. I know I'll be surprised if she doesn't try something!
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Well, it's not a problem, Alex. I see all kinds of people in my line of work. We've run out of time. So I'll see you again next week. And, Alex, please try to get yourself to the doctor, okay?
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rozzi:
|
|
Sure enough, Doc man. I'll be here. And I'll go there, too!
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Balis:
|
|
Take care, Alex. Bye, Darla.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
###
|
|
Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Alex Rozzi's Communications
