Heather was walking home that day, turning it all over in her head, when she met someone unexpected but not unwanted. It was a Geoffrey’s bat Animalian she had seen once or twice, but never had a name for.
“My name’s Geoff.” He said, as an introduction. Heather blinked at the coincidence. “The zookeepers at the zoo where I was uplifted named me. Anyway, you’re probably thinking about someone, right?”
“Ack!” Exclaimed Heather, but before she could make any of the awkward excuses Geoff explained it.
“I’ve got heat sensors in my nose and extremely acute hearing. I can tell when you’ve got the ‘bondmate bug’, as it’s known in Animalia. My advice is talk it out with this guy.” He said, pulling a business card that read: Dr. Adam Jones, Relationship Advisor.
“Who is he?” Asked Heather, having never heard of him.
“He holds Ph.D.’s in Psychology, Psychoanalysis, and He got his doctorate on ‘the psychology of teenage angst’ as he calls it.” Explained Geoff, “And get this, he’s only 20 years old!”
“Wha?!” Exclaimed Heather, certainly not expecting that.
“Apparently he’s what other psychologists call ‘autistic’.” Said Geoff, “What I do know about him is that his IQ is in the top 10% of humans, he has very poor interpersonal skills, he was grade skipped four times, and he has a preference for short stories that teach lessons. So talk to him, and he can help you.”
“But what is he doing in Animalia?” Asked Heather, deciding to at least see him.
“It’s not surprising to see psychologists and/or neurologists coming to Animalia.” Answered Geoff. “Anyway, I’ve got to get to rehearsal. I’ll see you on Bald Mountain during the AHE.”
—
After Polly and her temporary family had left, Jeremy was on his way back to the lab when one of his college friends, Joe Smith, caught him at the door.
“Oh no. You’re not falling asleep at the microscope again.” Jeremy winced at that. It was during his college years that he had seemingly vanished for three years. His parents got upset, and the campus swirled with rumors of kidnapping and other worse fates. But on the fourth day, he was found in the lab, fast asleep with his head on the microscope, apparently from working too hard.
“I know you’ve been thinking about Polly.” Continued Joe, “So what you should do is talk to that new psychotherapist that showed up, Dr. Adam Jones.”
“Really, why?” Asked Jeremy.
“You know that rich kid that moved here recently?” Said Joe. Jeremy thought he did. He was someone who had the look of someone born into wealth, but wasn’t able to enjoy it. Joe continued, “After spending one session with Dr. Adam, he got rid of the beeper, the cell phone, and tried to be a kid, like Dr. Adam said. As it turned out, that was what he needed, and he was a lot happier after that.”
“What’s your point?” Asked Jeremy, not getting it.
“My point is that you should talk to him.” Replied Joe.
“But why?” Asked Jeremy, still not getting it.
“At the least you’ll know what’s bothering you, and you can take proactive steps to deal with it.” Answered Joe with finality.
“Well, alright.” Answered Jeremy, knowing how stubborn Joe could get at times, remembering his college nickname, ‘mule boy’.