“And now, we’re going to play a...
“And now, we’re going to play a little game,” the psychologist says. Just a little something to probe the psyche. He asks if we like games.
Sure. “Like the cemetery game,” we say.
We explain: Whenever Mom or Dad drove the car past a cemetery, we would have to cross our fingers and eyes, hold our breath, touch a button and take our feet off the floor.
“Childhood games can be so peculiar,” the psychologist says. “They can become a part of us. It’s a wonder that we’re able to outgrow them.”
We’re silent.
“Surely you don’t play this game today?” he asks.
One can’t be too careful, we say.
He stares at us for a moment and shifts in his seat.
“Let’s continue,” he says. “I’ll hold up these ink blots, and you tell me what you see. How does that sound?”
Fire away, we say . . .
Oh, this first one is easy. It’s a picture of Jung.
“Jung?” he asks. “Carl Jung? What’s he doing?”
Eating, we say. Eating gnocchi.
“In a nice, light tomato sauce,” we add.
He puts down the card and scratches his head.
Do we see anyone else?
Yes. A waiter.
Describe him, he says.
Short. Funny hat. Pointed shoes. Big belt buckle.
“A gnome,” the therapist says.
“Son-of-a-gun,” we say.
He whistles.
“This gnome is talking to Jung about something,” we say.
“About what?” the psychologist asks.
“Gnosticism . . . but Jung ain’t buying.”
“I need a glass of water,” the shrink says.
“Let’s move on,” he says. “What about this card?”
Another easy one, we say.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, author of “The Mugging of Black America,” discussing “Black Men, Black Women: Conflicts and Resolutions” at the Old Fire Station, 2616 S. Hobart Blvd., Los Angeles, at 3 p.m. today. Admission free. Call (213) 677-6311.
“And this one?”
People strolling. The 1991 Stroll-a-Thon for Babies with AIDS, a 5-K walk to raise funds for children with the disease. We see Roxbury Park, 471 S. Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills. Registration at 9 a.m. today. Call (213) 931-1453.
“And this one?”
Hmmmm. The Wilderness Fly Fishers offering “Western Techniques for Larger Trout” by Mike Lawson. We see a hotel. The Ramada Inn, 1150 S. Beverly Drive, Los Angeles, at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Admission is $25. Call (310) 280-3459.
” . . . Doc?”
“Uh?” he says. He looks a little worn.
“We said we’re ready for the next card.”
He hands it to us.
Lots of movement in this one. The Synapse Dance Theatre’s presentation of original modern choreography. Santa Monica College’s Studio Stage, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6, $4 for students. Call (310) 452-9214.
“You’re blocking,” the therapist says.
Well, perhaps we were wrong about that first one.
Perhaps it was a cream sauce.