Snippet #1615001

Dr. Goodstep hustled into the doorway, barely missing one of his patients. "Dreadfully sorry!" He apologized, glad that they had not bowled each other over. He cleared his throat. "I am terribly sorry for my tardiness. The Gods of Traffic Lights decided to not be nice today." He gave a small chuckle, then continued. "I am Doctor Steven Goodstep. I will be your psychiatrist and leader in this help group. You may call me Doctor Goodstep, Doctor Steven, Doc, Steve, or whatever you may wish." Another chuckle. "Just stay away from the expletives and insults, please."

He motioned to the rooms. "Now, I see that most of have situated your rooms. If I am mistaken, or already have done so, I would like to ask you to come sit down." He walked over and motioned to the living room, where a three-seater couch and two armchairs faced a flat-screen television in a semi-arc. Steven got a stool from a small two-person bar in the room, sitting in front of the television so that the patients would face him. He waited until everyone sat down before continuing.

"Good, good. Now, starting from my left, I would like you to introduce yourselves to each other--or, at least, to me--by giving your name, your favorite color, something that you like, and something that you don't like." He pulled his yellow paper tablet from his inside jacket pocket to begin the notetaking, clicking his pen.