I wrote this for a creative writing class in 2008, a couple of years after my third rehab. It’s about making new friends in a place known as The Ranch House on the grounds of the Norristown State Hospital. The guests call it what it is, a looney bin.
Peggy, the oldest, forever in her tattered robe, hopscotching down the hall when she’s not talking to herself or crying.
Adrian, the young, spoiled wannabe junkie, whining about not getting strong enough meds.
Stacy, fresh from the pizza shop, smiling and stumbling around on Seroquel.
Steve, the happy criminal, acting like he’s at summer camp.
Victor, a child in a forty year old body, slipping into schizophrenic rants about hidden cameras in the vents.
Donna, the large breasted, healthy looking nurse, explaining her addiction to Vicodin.
Sara, the stuck up prostitute, waltzing through the cafeteria like a queen.
Susan, the tough, freckled, career alcoholic trying to play bouncer.
Carl, his laces taken away, flapping down the hall all night in oversized shoes, driving everyone crazy.
Lucas, the seasoned gang member with the bitten off ear, bragging about his tragic childhood.
Tom, lanky and pale, trying to beat himself to death after a half-assed hanging attempt.
And me, a paragon of sanity, here with my friends.
There is little satisfaction in “the loonie bin”. Have visited my sister there often. An effective portrait, Mike.
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It was satisfying to leave and satisfying to write about it later.
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For sure. Thanks for joining in
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You really give a multilayered view of satisfaction, and its disruption too.
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I’m not sure what that means Paul but I’ll take it as a compliment.
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and yes, a compliment indeed 🙂
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Thank you. 😉
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Pleasure
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Well i guess I was looking at what might satisfy each of your characters in the story and how their expectations were not being met. A great slice of real life.
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Good question, no easy answer. We each wanted to be free of our own little problems in our own imaginary world. There was no easy way to be free of them because they were not real but an attempt to deal with an illusion. The chief feature, the cramp, the blind spot, all ego defense mechanisms designed to protect a child from a world he finds frightening.
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Yes, protection indeed, a brutal world for many.
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Its a brutal world if we believe it is.
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