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Dr. Balis:
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Hello, Alex. Why do you have that look on your face?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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It's not a look. Look closer. It's my lower lip; it's swollen. I kind of have a fat lip, and it makes me look like I'm pouting. Everyone's been asking me about it.
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Dr. Balis:
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What happened?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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You probably think I'm a klutz or something--I'm always getting hurt.
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Dr. Balis:
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I don't think that. Tell me what happened, Alex.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, it's a long story.
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Dr. Balis:
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That's okay, go on.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, this happened last weekend, and I'm not making any of this up, okay? This has been the weirdest, wildest week of my life, and you know this isn't my first trip around the block! So anyway, it all started really with Tony.
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Dr. Balis:
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You two didn't fight again, did you?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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No, the fat lip story doesn't really have anything to do with him, but the bizarre week I had does. Last week, I told you that I was going over to see Tony to talk to him about how he got over the stuff with Tim, remember? When I got to his house, he didn't answer. But I could hear the TV on real loud, so I went around to the side where I could look through the window and see if he was in. There he was, just sitting there like a zombie, all curled up with his legs to his chest. I tried to get his attention, but he wouldn't look at me. So I went to the back and went inside through the back door. When I got a closer look at him, I could tell he had been crying--his face was all puffy, and his eyes were real red. The place was a total mess. It turns out that what's-her-name is gone, finally.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm. Sharon is gone? Do you know what happened?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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I can't get him to talk much, really. He just sits, staring into space most of the time. All I know is sometime between that cross-dressing thing they did and now, she just stopped going over there and stopped calling. I don't really care what happened between them, as long as that drug-addled little bitch is gone. She was bad news. Who knows? Maybe she became one of those vegetarian, anti-abortion, conservative, religious fanatic zealots and is going around trying to convert people!
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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But Tony is so broken up over this he won't even leave the house. I had to go out and get him some food so he won't starve to death. And when I started to leave him the first time, he screamed out and just started crying. It's real sad. He must have really become attached to her. Why, I'll never know! And the worst part of it is that he doesn't know what happened. He thinks he did something wrong and feels real guilty. I don't know...I can't believe how people are these days. They treat each other as if they are disposable, like you can just throw someone out of your life or something. It kind of made me think about Benny, too. Shit! Everything makes me think of him. Sometimes, I wonder if things would change if we stayed together, but who knows? Well, enough of that. Oh, and I never found out how Tony got over the abuse that Tim put him through.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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So Ralph is doing better and eating again pretty regularly. And there's no more nausea for now, which is a good thing. This was weird, though. One of his friends died. His name was Tobias, and he was married to the same woman for fifty-two years. I think it's a goddamned miracle or something, you know?
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Dr. Balis:
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That is a long time.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Yeah, really! So anyway, he was like a mentor to Ralph, I think. They were real close, and he was sick for a long time with bone cancer. For the last four months, he really suffered. So it was more of a relief to see him go than anything else. But Ralph is pretty sad over his death anyway--I can tell even though he tries to hide his feelings. Anyway, we were at their house the night before the funeral, and these real weird things happened. First, we were all sitting around the kitchen table when we heard a noise in the hall. His daughter Ginny went out to look because no one else was in the house except for us. When she went out there, the cover from the light fixture on the ceiling popped off and fell to the floor, right at her feet. According to her, Tobias was the only one who ever turned on that light. Brrr! I'm getting chills all over again just talking about it. Then, a little later, the toilet flushed, all by itself, and not just once, but a few times. I looked at it, and the chain inside had come loose, but it was such strange timing. But the most bizarre part was the airplane.
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Dr. Balis:
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The airplane?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Yeah, it's this clock radio thing he had. He was a pilot, and this toy was a replica of an airplane he flew. Well, the darned thing came on all by itself--the propellers spun around, and the lights were flashing. All that stuff really spooked me--a real life ghost! I mean, you do the math.
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Dr. Balis:
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That sounds pretty strange, but coincidences do happen.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Yeah, yeah, whatever. You think what you want, but I saw it all with my own eyes--they have his ghost now. Ginny said if that shit keeps up, she's out of there. I think she might be older than you, but I bet you would really like her. Maybe I can fix you two up.
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Dr. Balis:
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Uh, thanks, Alex, but no. That's not necessary.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Oh, I see. Do you already have a girl?
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Dr. Balis:
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This isn't something that we...
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Do you mean you got a boyfriend? Doc! I couldn't tell! What a surprise. You're one of us!
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Dr. Balis:
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No, no! That's not what I meant. Alex, we are supposed to be talking about you, not about me.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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It's okay, dude, you can talk to me. We've known each other a long time now, and I just realized that I don't know anything about you except what you do for a living. So which is it? A boy or a girl?
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Dr. Balis:
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Like I said, we are here to talk about what's going on with you. So please, let's get back on track, okay?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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All right, dude, if you insist.
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Dr. Balis:
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I do.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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So, where were we?
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Dr. Balis:
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Why don't you tell me how you got the fat lip?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Oh yeah. That! You know, if it weren't for Cecil, I probably wouldn't be here right now. I'd probably still be trying to explain things to the police.
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Dr. Balis:
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The police are after you again?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, not for the reasons you are thinking. The other day, I went over to Walgreen's to pick up a couple of prescriptions for Ralph. And I thought I was so lucky because I got a parking place so close to the store, too.
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Dr. Balis:
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You were driving? Alex, you don't have your driver's license yet.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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So tell me something I don't already know, dude! With Ralph being sick, sometimes I have to drive. Anyway...damn! I forgot where I was. Oh yeah. Anyway, I went inside and got his prescriptions. As I was walking out, suddenly, Regina was there right in my face. And before I could react, she sucker-punched me in the mouth. That's how I got the fat lip. But when she punched me, I was caught so off guard that I fell backward and knocked over a rack, spilling all its contents to the ground. Then the crazy bitch splashed something on me, some liquid--I think it was Pepsi because, later, it was real sticky. And then, in like slow motion, she lighted a match with this big sadistic smile on her face. She said, "If this was gasoline, I'd be able to light you on fire right now." And then she started laughing. So I got up and started to chase her. She darted out into the street and...well, she was history!
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Dr. Balis:
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What?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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You wish, dude! I was just kidding about the history part. You know you get that look you get---that all twisted all too serious look---it's too funny! I couldn't resist, dude. No, but really, she did run out into the street, and she kind of got clipped by one of those new VW Bugs. So she fell down and cracked open her head and got all bruised up pretty bad. It was so cool!
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Dr. Balis:
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What happened then?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, the police and paramedics came and whisked her away. Then this guy pointed at me and yelled, "He did it! He pushed her!" And I was all...I was just standing there kind of paralyzed. It all happened so fast. I didn't even realize that I had blood on my lip. But then this girl said, "No, he didn't. I saw everything. She tried to light him on fire!" I was like, "What the fuck is this anyway?" The guy from the store was there, insisting that someone had to pay for all the broken stuff. And the cops were there holding onto me. And it was total confusion. Then the worst part happened. There across the street was Ralph's car. It was on the back of a tow truck! And I wasn't thinking. I just sort of panicked, I guess. I tried to run after the tow truck, trying to make him stop.
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Dr. Balis:
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Oh, Alex.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Yeah. The police thought I was trying to get away. And before I had a chance to realize what hit me, I was in the back of the police car. And I lost Ralph's prescriptions. Oh my god! I feel like I'm starting to hyperventilate again.
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Dr. Balis:
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Just take a moment and remember to breath slowly. That's right. Good.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Whew! When the cop car started moving, I panicked. And it seemed like everything was slanted and in super slow motion. My hands were getting numb from the handcuffs, and my instincts made me kick the back of the seat. I think I broke it, too.
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Dr. Balis:
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Oh, Alex.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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So when I got to the police station, I had to answer all their questions, with and without Cecil being present. It took about six or seven hours to get it all straightened out. They questioned a lot of people who were around when Regina attacked me. They questioned me over and over again--typical. Cecil and I got to talk privately, and I told him everything just like I told you. I guess when a lawyer starts talking the police have to listen.
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Dr. Balis:
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Were you actually arrested?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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No, not at all. They just hauled my sorry ass in for questioning. I guess they must have talked to Regina, too. All I know is that she got arrested for assault and mayhem after Cecil was finished. He said she was stalking me. But now she's caught.
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Dr. Balis:
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That's a relief.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Now, how do I stop having nightmares about this? Every night since then, I've dreamt of her, of seeing her face and flames all around me, coming out of my skin. I try to make it stop, but it won't and...and, uh...
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Dr. Balis:
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Okay, Alex. Just relax and take a few deep slow breaths. There, that's right. You're doing better.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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She really freaked me out, you know? Cecil took me to my mom's house, and I had to explain everything to Mark and my mom like seventeen times. Then I went home to Ralph's, and he could have worn a path in the carpet--he didn't know what happened to me. He was totally freaking. I had to explain about the car and...
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Dr. Balis:
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Why did it get towed? It couldn't have been parked for very long.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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The parking spot was right on the corner and empty--and we're talking about the Castro. I just drove right into it, thinking I was totally lucky. Well, I parked in a construction zone and didn't even realize it. That's why they towed it. It cost almost two hundred dollars to get it back, and Ralph was not amused. Some good Samaritan picked up Ralph's prescriptions and turned them into the pharmacy, so we got those back. Right now, Ralph is having a meeting with his attorney about Regina's lawsuit. I think her getting arrested for stalking me puts things in a different light, don't you think?
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Dr. Balis:
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I suppose it does.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, no matter. As long as she keeps spiraling out of control like this, she just slices her own throat deeper and deeper. Now they know she's the crazy one. Look at the time. I should probably get going. I have to get some stuff done, and lately, I haven't been able to even fathom how fast time is moving. There's hardly enough time in the day anymore to do everything I need to do. I don't know how I'm going to manage when school starts back up. What am I going to do about Ralph? Well, thanks for listening to me rant and rave, dude.
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Dr. Balis:
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All right, Alex. See you next week, Alex. And when you get yourself all worked up, don't forget to breathe. Slow yourself down, take some slow deep breaths. You won't hyperventilate if you remember to do it.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Oh. Okay! Thanks, dude. See you!
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye, Alex.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Alex Rozzi's Communications
