“But,” Megan managed to say, “that’s greedy of me.”

“Of course it’s greedy. You were a child, you’re supposed to be greedy. Parents are there to fill your needs. That’s the whole point of parents. Tell her what you feel.”

Her head swam-from the electricity in the black eyes boring into hers, from her desire, her fear.

From her anger…

In ten seconds, it seemed, she’d filled the entire sheet. She dropped the paper on the floor. It floated like a pale leaf The doctor ignored it.

“Now. Your father.”

Megan froze, shaking her head. She looked desperately at the wall clock. “Next time. Please.”

“No. Now. What are you mad about?”

Her stomach muscles were hard as a board. “Well, I’m mad ‘cause why doesn’t he want to see me? He didn’t even fight the custody agreement. I see him every two or three months.”

“Tell him.”

“I-”

“Tell him!”

She wrote. She poured her fury on to the page. When the sheet was half full her pen braked to a halt.

“What else is it, Megan? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh, what do I hear?” he said. “The passion’s slipping. Something’s wrong. You’re holding back.” Dr. Peters frowned, “Whispering bears. Something about that story’s important. What?”

“I don’t know.”

“Go into the place where it hurts the most. We go deep, remember. That’s how I operate. I’m Super Shrink.”

Crazy Megan can’t take it anymore. She just wants to curl up into a little crazy ball and disappear.

The doctor moved closer, pulling his chair beside her. Their knees touched. “Come on. What is it?”

“No. I don’t know what it is…

“You want to tell me. You need to tell me.” He dropped to his knees, gripped her by the shoulders. “Touch the most painful part. Touch it! Your father’s read you the story. He comes to the last line. ‘Bears can’t talk.’ He puts the book away. Then what happens?”