“Have a seat, young lady,” Doctor Peterson said in a soothing tone.
        Twelve-year-old Nancy shuffled across the room and slumped into the chair.
        “Nancy,” the Doctor said, “Let’s talk about how it feels to be a middle child.  I understand that you have a younger sister and an older brother.”
        “Yeah, Doc, and they really bug me.  I get blamed for nearly everything they do wrong.  They think I’m stupid enough to let them get by with it.”
        “I know you aren’t stupid.  I have your score on the gifted children’s test, which your principal suggested you take.  It indicates that you have virtually unlimited potential.”
        “Yeah, but that doesn’t get Mom off my back when I forget to clean up my room.”
        “Hmm.  That’s something we’ll need to look at in more depth at a later time.”
        After covering several general background topics, he said.  “I’ll see you same time next week, Nancy.”
 
Nancy felt a little better as she
joined her mother in the waiting room.  At least someone was now listening to her.
        On the way home, her mother asked, “What did you and Doctor Peterson talk about?”
        “Uh, he asked me not to say anything until we’ve figured out some things.”
 
Her mom let that go and, as the week went on, Nancy got a lot less criticism about the condition of her room and chores.  What a relief.  She told her mom that she needed time and computer access to work on a complicated project for school and would appreciate not being expected to clear the table and load the dishwasher for a while.
        “Yes, I can go along with that, for now,” Mom replied.
        Nancy turned her back to conceal a smile.
 
The next day at school, Nancy
confided to her best friend, Susan, “I thought the sessions with Doctor Peterson would be a real pain, but they seem to be working out great.  I’ve been excused from doing most of my chores, and Jim and Karen haven’t gotten away with blaming me for anything, all week.”
        “That’s great, Nancy,” Susan said.  “I’ll remember that when my little sister is big enough to get me blamed for things.”
        “Right.  But don’t tell anyone I told you all this.”
        “Of course not.  Aren’t we best friends?”
 
That night at dinner, Dad asked
Nancy how she was feeling and how her school project was coming along.  He had always been supportive, but was not always aware of what went on at home while he was at work.
        “I’m feeling fine, Dad,” Nancy said with a smile.  “But I sure could use your help with a computer link.  I need to gather more data for my project.”  Don’t really need any help, Nancy thought, but it’s best to keep Dad involved.
  
Nancy was enthusiastic about her
next session with Doctor Peterson.
        “How was your week at home and at school?” he asked.
        “Better,” she said.  “Monday is Parents’ Day at school.  Mom and Dad are both coming, to see how my project ranked. They’re going to get a sitter for Jim and Karen, so I will have their undivided attention for a change.”
 
Dr. Peterson made notes.  The kid’s pretty shrewd.  I wonder if she thinks she can manipulate me the way she does her family.   She’s quite a challenge.  He looked up.  “That’s great, Nancy.  Good luck with your project.”  He returned to his notepad.  “By the way, are your brother and sister as interested in school as you are?  And how do you feel about how all of you are treated by your parents?”
        “My sister is almost as good in school as I am,” Nancy said.  “But my brother has some problems.”
        “And how do your parents deal with that?”
        “Dad spends a lot of time with Jim, because he needs extra help with the homework and doesn’t always tell the truth about whether or not he’s done it.  Mom acts like she believes Jim.  He’s the oldest, and I think he’s her favorite.”
        “Hmm.  And your sister, Karen?”
        “Oh, she’s the baby, so I get blamed for most of the things she does, and I have many more chores to do than she does.”
        “Very interesting, young lady.  We’ll talk more about that next week.”
  
At recess the next day, Nancy and Susan sat on adjoining swings talking about

Parents’ Day and Nancy’s latest session with Doctor Peterson.
        “My project only took Second Place, but Mom and Dad were very proud of my anyway.  And I think Doctor Peterson will be supportive after I tell him how great it was to be out with Mom and Dad, without my brother and sister.”  She gave Susan a sly smile.  “I think I’ve convinced him that I have anxiety attacks and don’t sleep well because there’s too much pressure on me to be perfect.  Now, if I can get him to advise Mom and Dad to ease off on what they expect from me, and just give me more positive attention, I will have won.”
        “Gee, Nancy, you really are smart,” her friend exclaimed.  “If I have any problems like that, I’ll sure ask you for advice.”
        “Thanks, Susan.   I’ll let you know how it turns out.”
  
There was tension at the dinner table that night.  Mom had made a batch of her special chili that everyone liked.  She was unusually cheerful, Nancy thought.  She asked the kids if anything interesting had happened at school.
        Jim said that they had a math test, which was hard, but he thought he’d passed it.
        Karen said that she had been chosen first for a playground game.
        “And how was your day, Nancy?” Dad asked.
        “Well, Susan and I had a nice visit at recess.  She asked if I could sleep over this Friday night.  May I?”
        “This is your Saturday to give Pepper a bath, and your room is still a mess,” her mom said.  “You finished your school project, so you can’t continue to use that as an excuse.”
        “But, Mom, you know the dog will just get dirty again in this weather.  And I’ll clean up my room before Friday.  Can’t you cut me some slack?  You know I haven’t been sleeping well and my stomach is upset.”
        “Why didn’t you mention your stomach upset before?  I would have fixed you something easier to digest than chili.”  Nancy’s mother sighed.   “Okay, if you feel better by Friday, you may go to Susan’s.  I’ll pick you up before noon Saturday and we will try to get back on schedule next week.”
        It took quite an effort for Nancy to conceal her triumphant smile.  “May I be excused?” she asked.  “My stomach’s bothering me again.”
        Her mom looked at her dad in frustration.
  
Nancy went to her next session with an upbeat attitude.  Doctor Peterson smiled and said, “Good morning, Nancy.  I’m happy to see you in such a good mood.  I think we can wrap things up today, and I’ll be recommending several techniques that will help you and your parents to achieve a better relationship.”
        Nancy’s smile turned tentative.  She sat down.  She wondered if she would win the final round.
        Doctor Peterson opened the file on his desk and referred to his notes.  “I’ve spoken to your pediatrician and your guidance counselor at school.  Doctor Sparks says that your recent physical showed that you are in perfect health, with no indication of any infection or digestive problems.”  He looked up at her then went back to the records.
        “Your counselor indicates that your frequent visits to her office turned up no apparent problems. We think that these trips were simply bids for the attention that you didn’t get at home.  I hope that you can come to a better understanding with your family, and resolve to do your part to improve your relationship with them.
        “You know they all love you, appreciate how intelligent you are, and want you to succeed.”
        Nancy hung her head and said, “Yes, I know, and I’ll do my best,” but she was thinking, I beat the system for quite a while, but I suppose being more cooperative will be an interesting game, too.  I may even learn to enjoy it.  
  
She stood up and they shook hands.  As she left the room, Doctor Peterson mused, I wonder who is testing whom?
 
 
                         About The Author
  
        Sarah Sword, retired from Federal Civil Service in 1992 after 36 years, has pursued writing as a hobby for many years.  She became a Mensa member in 1977 and is a long-time member of the SIG.  Although she says she has achieved a respectable degree of success in writing science fiction, she has recently been writing young adult fiction.  She is most encouraged by occasional publication in Calliope.
    
  
  
                                       Copyright © Sarah Sword