Post by StoryGirl83 on Sept 30, 2008 23:08:10 GMT -5
Chapter Seven - Expert Opinions
Present Day - 2005
Students were walking in and out and around the Berkley campus. One woman, Professor Slotkin was exiting. Phoebe ran down the sidewalk from Professor Slotkin’s left trying to catch up with her. As she ran she called out. “Um, Professor Slotkin?”
Professor Slotkin glanced behind her. “Sorry, Ms. Halliwell. I don't have time to discuss your paper topic right now.”
Phoebe kept up her pace as she said, “No, no, it's not about the paper, it's actually personal.”
Professor Slotkin stopped and turned to Phoebe. “Oh?”
Relieved that she had her teachers attention Phoebe started to explain. “Yeah. It's about my nephew. He's two and a half, and he's just going through some stuff, and I was kind of hoping you could help me understand it.”
Professor Slotkin shrugged a little as she asked, “Terrible twos?”
Her voice a little louder, as if for emphasis Phoebe said, “Well, I think it started out as that, and now it's just . . .” her voice trailed a little as she continued, “. . . well, at preschool he talks to himself, and then at home he doesn't talk to anybody.”
With a full shrug Professor Slotkin gave her opinion on a possible solution. “Well, perhaps he has an imaginary friend. Although, he's a little early for that developmentally.”
Phoebe came to the defense of her nephew with a goofy look on her face. “Well, he's very advanced for his age. And if it was an imaginary friend, is that necessarily a bad thing?”
Professor Slotkin obviously didn’t think so as she began a little speech. “Freud used to think it was a sign of immature thinking. Of course, nowadays we know that kids create imaginary friends for lots of reasons: Companionship, conflict resolution, sometimes as a coping mechanism.”
“Let me write this down.” Phoebe starts to get out some paper and begin writing.
Phoebe’s words broke Professor Slotkin out of her good mood some. She looked at Phoebe a little annoyed as she said, “Oh, and that's Slotkin with an "S." You were planning on giving me credit.”
Phoebe looks up at her confused. “I'm sorry, what?”
Professor Slotkin gave Phoebe a look. “Well, last week we discussed Lorenz's Theory of imprinting in class, and this week I read about him in your column. I imagine we're discussing next week's content. No?”
Phoebe was surprised. “No, no. This is actually about my nephew.”
Professor Slotkin clearly didn’t believe her. “Please, we both know why you're taking my class.”
Phoebe looks shocked as she starts trying to explain herself. “I'm taking your class to be a better columnist and to understand human behavior.”
Professor Slotkin didn’t even let Phoebe finish speaking before she continued. “I've spent years studying and teaching psychology, Ms. Halliwell, dedicated my life to it. But I'll be damned if I'm just gonna let you poach my class to steal a sound bite or two for your column.”
Phoebe tried to protest, “No, but I . . .”
Professor Slotkin was no longer interested in what Phoebe had to say. “You want to learn about imaginary friends? Do the research. I look forward to reading your paper on it.”
Phoebe watched Professor Slotkin walk away with a stunned sigh.