“But because of those overworked years,” Jeremiah pointed out, “you’ve been able to donate some of your savings here, right?”
“Not just some.” She gazed at me. “I would do anything for Teacher. She saved me.”
“As for me,” Jeremiah said, “I was a CPA at a small firm in Chicago. It was like living in a Dilbert cartoon.”
“Oh.” I smiled. “I work in accounting too, in New York. Well, just as a receptionist.”
“Get outta town,” he said. “At which firm?”
As I explained my background I tried not to feel inferior, but Jeremiah and Sofia didn’t care that I held no advanced degrees—or any degree. They listened intently to every word.
“I’m so sorry about your mom,” Jeremiah said when I’d finished. “My brother passed fourteen years ago, and I still miss him like hell. There’re a lot of things I wish I’d done differently while he was alive.” He stared at his shoes.
“Me too.”
He glanced up, about to say something else when the trailer door bounced open. In walked Raeanne, a toothpick propped between her lips. She sauntered to the middle of the room.
“Raeanne, shoes,” Ruth said. “You’re tracking mud everywhere.” Raeanne twirled the toothpick, then bent down to unlace her boots. Ruth sighed. “Leave them on. Have you seen Gordon?” Raeanne shook her head.
“We’ll have to get started without him, then.” Ruth clapped. “All right, class, today we’re working on parental transference. Everyone find a partner and sit across from them, please?”
I scanned the room for April and hurried to her side. “Be my partner?”
She wiggled her eyebrows and nodded. We sat on the nearest couple of floor pillows. I glanced around the room at the other pairs. Jeremiah and Sofia. Sanderson and his friend. Debbie and Raeanne. They were all seated cross-legged, knees almost touching their partners’。 April noticed this too and moved her pillow closer to mine. Dank heat emanated off her.
Ruth walked to one of the windows and lowered the blind. She spoke in a soothing tone. “At Wisewood, we work tirelessly to eliminate our fears so we can reach our Maximized Selves. Many of our deepest fears are rooted in childhood, whether they be lessons we’ve internalized from unpleasant experiences or explicit warnings and abuses we’ve suff—”
“Hey, Ruth.” Raeanne raised her hand. “I think Jeremiah and Sofia should switch partners.”
We all glanced at the two of them. Both appeared bewildered.
“Why?” Jeremiah asked.
Raeanne dug her pinkie finger into her ear. “You’re awfully interested in getting close to her these days.” She put her finger to her nose and sniffed. “Rules are rules: no romances allowed.”
Jeremiah blushed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m happy to give examples.” Raeanne smirked.
Sofia leaned back from Jeremiah, who looked horrified. “I want a new partner.”
Ruth took a deep breath. “April, will you please switch spots with Jeremiah?”
April shrugged an apology at me and traded places with the big guy.
“Just watching out for your path.” Raeanne snickered.
“You’ve made your point, Raeanne,” Ruth said. “Let’s move on.” She crossed the room and let down the other blind. Jeremiah’s face was shadowed, lips a flat line. “Transference is the redirection of feelings toward a new person. The purpose of this exercise is to simulate one or both of your parents sitting across from you. We will unleash negative memories you’ve all been holding on to. This can be anything from ‘I hate the way you criticized my friends’ to ‘I was never good enough for you’ to ‘Why did you hurt me?’ You don’t need to get everything out in one session.” Ruth chuckled. “Some of our longtime members have done this exercise dozens of times, and they know we never quite run out of things to say to our parents.” People in the room muttered their agreement. “You are free to focus on any issue, however big or small. In a minute, I’ll turn out the lights and you won’t be able to see your partner.”
The trailer door opened again, flooding the room with sunlight. At the threshold stood Gordon. He closed the door behind him quietly.
“Thanks for gracing us with your presence,” Raeanne grumbled.
Gordon nodded at Ruth and took a seat near the door, his back to the wall.