Scuzzworms Read Online Free PDF Page A

blink,” she said.
    His eyes widened and his mouth opened and shut again. Better. 
    “Um, Dr. Imelda.”
    She sat waiting for a more complex statement to emerge.
    “You are a very difficult person to deal with.”
    Probably true, she thought.  She wouldn’t challenge that, certainly.  Hiebass was clearly frustrated.  This was going better than she had hoped.  Now the idhead was going to be too mad at her to try to help her.  He might even leave her alone entirely.
    “I have reviewed your file extensively.  According to the information I have here, you suffer from a number of unresolved conflicts and have never fully recovered from an unfortunate juvenile love affair.”
    Wonderful.  A direct attack, pointing out her weaknesses, emphasizing his own superiority.  The jerk hated her.
    “I have outlined a treatment plan entailing weekly visits with me.  I realize that you enjoy antagonizing people, and you are extraordinarily good at it.”  His look at her was not exactly an understanding one. 
    “I see on your record that you have not been compliant with prescribed therapy in the past.  Such noncompliance would be tolerated if you had not already proved in any number of ways that you are dangerous to yourself.  I hope you realize that you could easily have merited a supervisory position here if not for your attitude.”
    Imelda met his earnest glare with an implacable calm.
    He raised his voice a little.  “I intend to change that attitude!  While you are here, you must attend every one of our sessions, without exception, or I will pull you off of the project!  Do you understand?”
    “Sure, Fish.  Wouldn’t miss it.”  Imelda watched him curiously.  He was awfully excitable for a psychiatrist.   
    Hiebass was geared up for battle and paused disconcertedly.  He blinked some more.
    Imelda sighed.  Bladderwort, he was out of character again.  She smiled benevolently. “However, your assessment of my psyche is a bit akilter.  I have fully recovered from my juvenile love affair.  My last psychiatrist merely disagreed with my method of coping.”
    Hiebass’s eyes widened again. His fat lips circled to form an “Oh?”
    Much better, she decided.  “Yeah, she was a ‘les’.  She wanted me to be one too.  She never did figure out why I rejected her.”
    Fish looked exactly like a fish as his eyes rounded completely and he gaped in apoplexy.   Imelda was utterly pleased.
    “Dr. Imelda, I would appreciate it if you would be serious and at least attempt to cooperate with me.  I am aware that your research work has been faultless but your personality dysfunction threatens your career!  Psychiatrists are thoroughly screened for sexual compatibility prior to being allowed to encounter patients directly.  A homosexual psychiatrist would never have been paired with a fragile heterosexual patient.  You only hurt yourself by telling such tales. It is this poor contact with reality that led you to your suicide attempt.”
    Catching his breath, he shifted in his seat.  “You will be carefully supervised for any further evidence of suicidal ideation while you are here. Telling untruths only highlights your inadequate grasp of the real world and increases the amount of supervision you will be under.”
    Imelda shrugged.  “My subspecialty was reproductive biology, before I changed it.  I should think that I know how to recognize a lesbian.  I did not attempt suicide before.  I was attempting to retrieve a valuable specimen.”
    “On the edge of a ravine?  With no safety line?  Standing on a narrow rock outcropping?”
    “It wasn’t my fault that it crawled out there.  It was too busy chasing prey to look where it was going.”
    “So, apparently, were you.  We cannot tolerate carelessness on this project, Dr. Imelda.”
    She shrugged.  “I didn’t fall.  I had already turned around to walk back when everyone got excited.  Dr. Caldwell tripped over his two left feet and knocked