Thistle Creek

Chapter One

A sign above the door read, 'Adventure awaits outside your doorway' and Molly must have seen it over a thousand times during the past year. The sign was a gift from her doctors at the Mental Health Academy when she completed their treatment program for young people. It was a nice gesture from the staff, but the odds of Molly taking a step beyond the relative safety of her college campus involved intense psychotherapy. Tonight, the only adventure she planned for tonight, was a delivery from Shane’s Pizza House.

'My pizza is late, and I am famished' she thought to herself as she was biting her nails. Molly peered out the peephole, checking on her food delivery. ‘Shane's delivery is getting worse' she thought to herself while scanning the hallway. Molly hated using the peephole because it offered a distorted view of whoever was at the door. A therapist once used the analogy with Molly as a picture of how she processed certain painful life events.

She didn't like the analogy, it bothered her, just like Shane’s delivery is upsetting her tonight. For food, she had no other options. She likes the food from Shane’s, and they understood her to be a finicky customer. And nobody else would deliver to Molly’s address because she was ‘weird,' as someone said in the past. Anyway, the drivers at Shane’s liked Molly, because she always tipped well and was a nice person.

She stepped away from the door and decided another look out her dorm window would help the pizza arrive faster. It was no use. She was still waiting. So, Molly moved toward the door again. The pizza isn't here, she said to herself, aloud. Her mind wandered back to thoughts of the ‘Mental Health Academy’ for a moment.

She recalled thoughts of the 'window door routine.' It was a behavior that signaled Molly’s mind was trying to exert control in an unfavorable or stressful situation. At least, that was how she interpreted what the doctors described as an aggressive form OCD. Molly referred to her behavior as, her 'window door routine.' What others saw as weird behavior, Molly knew it was an uncontrollable body movement. It was difficult to stop once the behavior started, unless it ended with a positive outcome, like an order from Shane’s pizza.

Molly heard a noise from the hallway and raced back toward the peephole. She switched off the lights after reading about thieves using them to check if someone was home. In one news story, a mafia hitman killed someone by using the peephole. He put his gun right up against it and pulled the trigger. After reading the mafia story, Molly developed her safety strategy.

A loud male voice broke the silence and Molly knew her favorite delivery driver stood at the door. She liked him the most out of all the other delivery drivers at Shane's. Somehow, Molly felt comfortable around him and someday might even ask his name. However, not today, she was hungry.

It's your large pineapple, ham, and onion pie. He followed that with, Gourmet your way, from Shane's.

Molly opened the door to check her surroundings, and when the coast was clear, she unlatched the door chain.

Nice to see you again, Molly, he said. Before he said another word, Molly grabbed the pizza and handed him a fifty-dollar bill.

She mumbled, Keep the change and slammed the door.

He was unfazed by Molly's actions and said, Thanks. He realized that she gave him a forty-dollar tip for a ten-dollar pizza and shook his head.

Molly, in her ritual state, was peeking through the eyehole and she knew the driver felt it, too. She listened as he turned away to leave and then stopped dead in his tracks. Puzzled, Molly kept staring him. He turned back walking towards her door and bent down. Through the crack between the floor and the door, Molly saw the driver returned thirty-five dollars. When she looked back through the peephole again, she noted he stood up and faced towards the door so she saw his face.

That is too much money. I cannot take advantage of you. Anyway, it doesn't seem right to keep the extra change, but I kept five-dollars for some gas. Thanks, though, I appreciate the thought. He turned around to leave and kept on walking.

Molly made her way to the kitchen with the pizza and pulled a plate from the cupboard. She opened the pizza box to reveal that the driver drew a heart on the lid. She gave a smile and grabbed a slice of pizza.

#

Class started as Molly stepped out into the sunlight. ‘I will be late, again’ she thought to herself along the way. Her feet set at a faster pace, she reached the big wooden doors of the Science Hall and used both of her hands to open the doors. They were thick wood and weathered and needed oil because they screeched when opened. ‘That’s ironic, old doors making irritating noises before a psychology class’ she thought.

Welcome to class, Ms. Williams and thank you for gracing us with your presence, the Professor said. And followed up with, Please students, do not be tardy for my class.

Sorry, Professor, Molly said, as she rushed to find a seat.

Now, where was I, said the Professor. We were discussing treatments for psychotherapy. Now please open your textbook to the section about shock therapy.

As the class dragged on, it came time for the class lab, and that spelled doom for Molly. Being tardy, unbeknownst to her, volunteered her to be the test subject in a shock therapy session. It was an accepted policy of the class and Molly was the only person tardy that day. She was the human guinea pig.

Ms. Williams has volunteered to be the class test subject, said the Professor. She has volunteered because she was late for class. Come on up here, Ms. Williams.

Molly looked around the classroom. Everyone appeared to be laughing and pointing their fingers at her. A mix of dread, fear, and anxiety washed over her, and she wanted to run away. However, she stood up from the back of the lecture hall.

Please, Ms. Williams, we do not have all day quipped the Professor.

Molly's heart pumped faster while moved to the front of the classroom. She was uncomfortable with having everyone’s eyes gazing upon her in this green state. She moved down to the center of the lecture area and stood near the Professor.

Please come over here, Ms. Williams and lay down on the gurney and the Professor fluffed a pillow on the gurney while talking. Place your head on the pillow, please.

She hopped up on the gurney and followed the Professor’s directions. When her head rested upon the pillows all she saw was the lights above her. She seemed uncomfortable because she realized everyone’s eyes were gazing upon her. The Professor popped up above her and Molly twitched. She became scared and decided it would be best if she closed her eyes for the rest of the experiment.

The Professor reassured Molly that everything would be okay as she used a moistened towel to wipe the side of Molly’s temples. Don’t worry, you’ll be all right? the Professor said. She placed the electrodes over Molly’s head and in the same area she moistened with the towel.

Molly knew she would be sick. She needed to use the restroom, too. She knew from the class lecture that this was a natural response towards increasing fear and impending doom, so she ignored it.

The Professor stood behind the gurney where Molly was resting, and the class had a clear view of Molly. The teacher bellowed, Now when I press this button a volt of electricity will travel through the cords and into the electrodes situated over the patient’s temples. Our patient fills the void between the electrodes, which completes the circuit and distributes the therapy.

A student asked, You mean delivers the shock, correct?

Yes, the electrodes deliver the shock, the Professor replied. When I count down to three, we will dispense the first dosage. Three, two...

Molly tensed up, trying to brace for the shock. She was expecting what would happen.

One, said the Professor. A loud air horn pierced the silence of the auditorium. Everyone jumped. And the teacher, laughed in amusement as she shocked both Molly and the students. GOTCHA!

Molly, lying on the gurney in front of the classroom, jumped, too. She no longer needed to use the restroom.

Once the class recognized the joke, they laughed and smirk. One student, observing Molly, laughed louder. I cannot believe Molly wet herself, he said aloud. She wet herself. And the laughter erupted louder. It turned from the student’s direction and towards Molly.

Everyone knew and was seeing Molly’s embarrassment play out before them. She sensed their eyes on her as they laughed and joked about the accident.

Class dismissed, the Professor said. Class dismissed.

Molly, crying, got up from the gurney. She did not say a word to anyone as the students and Professor watched her walk out of class. Everyone was laughing as she walked out of the classroom.

One person, a boy named Mike, rushed out of the classroom, and caught up with Molly. Wait, Moll’s, hold on. She stopped. He removed his jacket and handed it to her. He helped tie the jacket around her waist and walked her back to the dorms.

Upset by the events, Molly appreciated Mike’s kindness. As they reached the dorms, Molly gave Mike a tearful smile.

You can freshen up, and I’ll run back to gather your belongings, he said, as Molly headed into her room. Do you like pizza? He saw Molly shake her head for up and down in a plain yes motion.

Cool, Mike said. It’s getting late, and I know of an excellent pizza place called Shane’s. I will return with the pizza in an hour. You rest. I got it covered.

Chapter Two

Mike returned to Molly’s room and waited a moment before knocking on her door. He took a moment to realize he shouldn't have been in class. It was a chance meeting because Mike had been there to pick up his sister, Rachael. She was a student was in the class with Molly, and he was there waiting on her. After seeing what happened, it was pure reflexes that kicked in to help Molly.

He knocked on the door and said, Hey Molly, your pizza is here.

She smiled when Mike returned with her books and the pizza. Molly was starving and her stomach grumbling. She ran to the door and discovered Mike was standing there with a classmate of hers. Shocked at first, Molly smiled and was
and invited them into her room.

Molly, this is my sister, Rachael, he said waiting for her to respond.

I recognize Rachael. Thank you, both for stopping by. Make yourselves at home she said with a half-smile on her face. She looked frustrated, by Mike's sister intruding on the evening. Molly just shrugged it off because it was a long day.

Molly, I’m not a student here. My sister is, and that is why I was in your class today he said. I was in class to pick up my sister for the weekend. When I told Rachel I was meeting up with you later, she wanted to come and check up on you, too.

Well, I appreciate that, Molly said.

Rachael chimed in, It was awful. Just so you are aware, I filed a complaint against the Professor with the Dean’s Office.

Thank you. I don’t know what to say Molly replied.

Mike held up the pizza and said, How about, let us eat. He smiled while saying that and it received a small round of laughs. You will love, Shane’s Pizza.

Rachael smiled and said, We eat it about three times a week, thanks to Mike working there.

Molly smiled and said, Sure. Let us eat. Molly never said a word to Mike or Rachel about her pizza order from last night.

Molly, Rachel, and Mike spent the evening eating pizza and listening to stand-up comedy. For three underage teens in the dorms, they enjoyed each other's company. When all the pizza and comedy shows ended, the three fell asleep in Molly’s room.

The next morning, Molly awoke to discover Rachael and Mike talking of plans to heading back home to see their parents.

Mike, we need to call Mom. She’ll be worried Rachael said.

He looked over at Rachael and said, Wait a minute. Good morning, Molly, would you have plans for the weekend?

Molly, still groggy said, Just studying.

Mike followed with, Can you do your studying away from campus? I mean, would you like to come home for the weekend with us?

She was shy, and said, If you have good internet service and yes, if it isn’t too much trouble.

Good, Mike said and phoned home to discuss his plans with Mom.

Rachael chimed in, He's always like this. Don’t worry. Rachael smiled and continued, He persuades Mom into going along with things. I never had that skill.

Michael yelled back from using his cellphone, Good to go.

I hope our family doesn’t scare you away, Rachael said. You’ll be in our family photos for the rest of your life. Mom will make a scrapbook with your pictures in it by Monday. I’m just warning you.

They prepped for the car ride home by heading back to their rooms to shower up and pack. Beforehand, they agreed to meet up in an hour out front in the parking lot of Summer’s dorm. They were all unaware of the fate that awaited them.

#

Molly waited outside in the morning sun for her new friends to arrive. The sunlight appeared on her face, taking the morning chill out of her bones. She packed a small bag, enough to last for the weekend which included her medication, computer, digital music player, and a few snacks to keep her blood sugar up.

A moment later, she recognized a car pulling into the parking lot with her friends in the front seats. It was a late model silver four-door car, the type any college student would drive. Molly wouldn't drive it, but it felt good to be an average person. Well, a person not judged by status or wealth.

Hop in, my dear Michael said. He moved around to get her bag and put it in the trunk of the hatchback. May I get your bag?

Why, yes, please do Molly played along.

Rachael just rolled her eyes as the silliness unfolded around her. You two are acting like clowns she quipped and turned the radio up, so her music blared throughout the car.

Don’t mind Rachael. She likes boy bands, Mike smiled and laughed. We have a three-hour trip we best be going.

Molly asked, Where are we heading?

My parents’ cabin in Maine Mike answered. Near the border. We have a good-sized lot up there with good hiking trails and fishing.

Sounds wonderful Molly replied. I cannot tell you when the last time I spent away from campus. Molly was eager to leave campus with them. It has been awhile since she had spent time near other people with healthy family lives. Plus, the weekend offered a good break from the craziness of yesterday’s classroom fiasco. She had a smile on her face as they drove off campus headed north towards the wilderness.

The hum of the roadway complimented the rhythm with the music playing over the speakers in the car. Seeing the street signs passing by at a consistent rate of speed was soothing for Molly and she enjoyed the peaceful sounds. Fresh air spilled in from the open windows and, she enjoyed the comforting sounds of the road. Molly and Rachael fell asleep by the continuous sound. Less than twenty minutes into the trip, Mike needed to stop for gas, and his travel companions awoke.

Rachael in her sleepy state of voice asked, Why are we stopping, Michael?

Fuel Rachael, he said, fuel.

The gas station was just out of a small town