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Comfortably positioned on the snowflake side of the blanket, Tracy unpacked their basket.

“So explain this game to me,” Maye said as she opened Christmas Movie Magic.

“This will be so fun. We each get cards with tropes on them and other classic things that are in holiday movies, and if you see it in the movie, you get the points.”

“Oh, so there’s an actual point to watching these movies?”

“Watch it,” Tracy said as she threw down her “colored lights” card for two points.

- 6 -

Meeting with Producers

Week 2. Anger. I am giving myself permission to be angry at Randall. This wound is still fresh and painful. I can be mad at him for that. I can blame the people who made that hiking documentary, and blame his father, and blame everyone in the world. I can let myself be angry about what has happened. I don’t need to be mean or take it out on others, though. I will feel the anger and frustration, take a deep breath, and use my words to express my feelings. And maybe I will take that free week of kickboxing I see advertised outside of Roundhouse Kickboxing.

As Maye met with clients throughout the day, she noticed that her assessments began to have an edge to them. She heard more than one person respond, “Really? Should I?” when Maye suggested a slightly more aggressive approach than she normally would have. In one case, a woman Maye saw every couple weeks named Karren recounted an exchange with a cashier who did not have enough coins in their register to give the five cents that was due back to them.

“Was it Tabby at Tay’s?” Maye replied, then quickly waved it off as a joke. “In the future, though,” Maye continued. “You should demand what is yours. Even if it means waiting for a manager, or holding up a line. No one should be taken advantage of like that,” Maye reminded Karren. And herself. After the appointment, Maye made a mental note to bite her tongue when she felt an urge to unleash her hostilities.

Tuesday her phone dinged with a text from an unknown number.

Unknown number:

Can you meet tomorrow afternoon?

This happened sometimes. A potential new client would reach out with a very unstructured initial message. She replied with her standard inquiry response.

Maye:

Thanks for reaching out. I understand sometimes this is the hardest step in your healing process. I do need to say that if you are considering harming yourself or someone else, then please call 911 for immediate help. Otherwise, click this link and select a date for an initial consult and then complete the intake form. Thanks for reaching out and I look forward to connecting with you! Appoint.meet

Unknown number:

Maye is this you?

Maye:

I cannot give out personal information. Please follow the channels for scheduling a consultation if you would like to do that.

Unknown number:

Maye, if this is you, this is Jayce Holiday trying to get in touch with you. But if you don’t want to be contacted then I will just leave you alone.

Maye:

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I am used to getting random texts about therapy appointments. Yes, this is Maye. What time tomorrow? What kind of meeting? Should I call you? Do I need to do anything to prepare?

Jayce Holiday (producer):

How’s noon eastern?

Maye:

Yes! Noon works!

Jayce Holiday (producer):

Great. What’s your email? I will send a meeting link.