We Need Boyfriends.
Samantha and Marie were good friends. Although they wouldn't
call themselves best friends, they spent a lot of time together,
chatting about boys, discussing future plans, and hanging out. In
reality, they were best friends even if they didn't label their
relationship as such. Tonight they decided to go ice skating.
As Sam and Marie skated around the rink, they talked about
how neither could get a boyfriend. No matter what they tried,
neither could gain a boys attention for more than a week. Neither
girl wanted a very serious relationship, but they wanted more in
a boyfriend than sex, which was what most of the boys they
attracted seemed to want.
Sam was 17 and had just started her senior year at a private
girls schools. She stood tall at 5'9" and very slim at 120 lbs.
She wore long brown hair, hanging just past the bottom of her
shoulder blades, and had large, almond-shaped hazel eyes that
stood out from a distance. Despite her natural-born feminitity,
she was a bit of a tom-boy. She had played ice hockey for several
years, and never seemed to enter into full womanhood.
Marie was very similar from a distance, only an inch taller
and 5 pounds lighter. But as you got closer, you saw many
differences. Marie had blonde hair, the same length as Sam's, but
she kept wore her hair pulled back into either a pony tail, or a
French Braid, where Sam wore her's free-flowing. Maire also had
deep blue eyes, smaller than Sam's, but equally as bright. She was
the ideal figure of a 17 year-old girl that every boy would want.
The personality differences between the girls was evident
even in the clothes they chose to wear tonight; Sam wore baggy,
loose-cut jeans, an oversized sweatshirt, and a wind-breaker
jacket to go with her fading cross-trainers, while Marie wore
designer, faded jeans, tightly hugging her thighs, with a white
turtleneck underneath an expensive, fitted wool sweater that
accented her figure and complemented the stylish, heeled black
boots she wore into the rink. The skates each girl wore spoke
of their personalities as well; Sam in game-torn hockey skates,
and Marie in bright white figures, without a scuff.
Despite the differences, the two were still great friends --
a relic left over from the days of middle school when they were
more similar than different.
Today, they faced a similar problem -- neither could find a
decent boyfriend. Sam's tomboyish actions detered boys from
approaching her, while Marie's beauty kept the shyer, nicer boys
away and only attracted over-confident assholes. There were a
few back-alley rumors that the two were lesbians, but they were
untrue. The girls just couldn't find decent guys, and going to
an all-girls school didn't help.
Also skating that night was Dr. Russel Woodreed, a state
medical examiner. Although a surgeon by trade, Russel also
took a deep interest in pschology, despite having no formal
training. Armed with a few books, he thought he knew everything
there was to know about pschology, and dismissed higher studies
on the subject as pointless. He lived with his old college frat
brother, Doug, and Doug's girlfriend Kim.
Russel couldn't help but overhear portions of the girls'
converstation -- they were quite loud and obnoxious at times.
Russel, not possesing the greatest tact in the world, finally
worked up the nerve to approach the girls about their 'problem.'
"Hi. I couldn't help but overhear part of your
conversation. I think I can help."
The girls looked at each other, rolling their eyes as if to
say 'Why is this 30-something loser trying to pick up a couple of
teenagers?'
Russel saw their reaction and said, "Wait." Having their
attention again, he continued, "I'm a doctor. I work for the
state as a surgeon, but I working on getting my psychiatry
license. I can actually help you.
"Here's my card for my private practice. Make an appointment
and we can work out your problems. And since I don't have a
license yet -- I will in 3 more months -- it won't cost you
anything."
Sam reach out and took the card that Russel offered.
"Thanks," she said, putting the card into her pocket.
"Oh, by-the-way, I am Dr. Russel Woodreed. And you are?"
"I'm Sam -- Samantha, and this Marie."
"Nice to meet you, Sam and Marie. Gimme a call." With that
Russel turned and skated away from the girls.
"What do you think of that guy?" Sam asked Maire.
"Weird," Marie said as she shook her head.
"Do you think we should call him?"
"No. I mean, what could he do to help us?"
Sam thought for a brief moment. "Maybe he tell us what we're
doing wrong. How we could get guys -- good guys -- to pay
attention to us."
"I don't know. You can go, but I don't think I will."
"Come on Marie. What's the worst that could happen?
Besides, he said it would be free. And I don't want to go alone"
"Okay," Marie submitted. "I'll go, but only for you."
"Great. I'll call tomorrow."
The next day the girls were over at Marie's house to study
together, and Sam reminded Marie of the plan. Marie moaned in
disapproval, but allowed Sam to move forward with the call.
"Hello.
"Hi Dr. Woodreed. This is Sam, from the ice rink. Me and
Marie would like to come in sometime.
"Today? I don't think we can do that.
"Really? Today or next week? Okay, we'll be there at 6:30"
"Bye."
"Marie, we have to leave now."
"What will we tell my parents?
"That we left something over at my place, and we need to go
get it."
Marie released a disapproving, yet permissive sigh.
The two hopped in Sam's car, and drove to the address on the
card. They hopped out and went into the building, searching for
office 2120.
The building was a little creepy. It was run-down and a
little dingy -- not what one expects at a doctor's office, but
the numerous signs for various doctors of all specialties made it
clear this old hospital had a new lease on life as home to many
private practices and specialists. But at this late hour, the
only other soul they encouter was a janitor sweeping the hallway.
They finally found room 2120, and they saw Russel waiting in
the receptionists office when they arrived.
"Hello girls," Russel greeted them. "I'm glad you made it
such short notice." He dissappeared behind a wall, then emerged
again from behind a door. "Please, come this way."
The girls walked towards the door, and followed Russel down
the hall to a small exam room.
"Like I said before, this is my private practice, and I'm not
a full psychologist yet, but that will change before spring.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable," Russel said as he
motioned towards the exam table.
"Okay, here's what I gathered from your conversation. You two
have trouble on the social scene, and don't know what to do. Am I
correct?"
The girls nodded in agreement.
"So, for today, I'll talk to both of you together, then one-
on-one, then together again. Is that okay?"
"You're the doctor," Marie said.
"Great. So tell me, how's school?"
Sam started, "Okay, I guess. I have this dick-head of an
algebra teacher who's trying to fail me. Other than that, it's all
good."
"And what about you, Marie?"
"Same thing. I'm in her algebra class, too."
"How many classes do you have together?" Russel asked.
"All of them, except I have band when she has choir," Sam
answered. "We kinda planned it that way."
"And how often do you spend time together outside of school?"
"Just about every day -- studying and hanging out and stuff,"
Marie said.
"Okay. Go on."
Sam continued, "We usually go over to my place or Marie's
place and study for an hour or two each day, then go to the mall
or skating or to a concert."
The two girls continued to tell Russel about themselves for
another 15 minutes, when the doctor finally stopped them.
"Thank you both for all the information. Now, I want to talk
to you each one-on-one. Who would like to go first?"
The girls stared at each other for a minute, and finally Sam
volunteered to go first.
"I will."
"Okay. Marie, please wait in the lobby."
Marie obediently obeyed, picking up her bag and moving
outside the exam room.
"Okay, Sam, tell me about yourself."
"What do you want to know?"
"Lets start with boys. What do you want in a boy?"
"I'm not looking for a serious relationship or anything.
Just someone to hang out with and do stuff with. Someone who
will pay a little attention to me."
Russel nodded. "Go on."
"I mean, everyone else has a boyfriend -- or had a boyfriend.
No guys ever seem to pay me attention or anything. It's like I'm
invisible or something."
"How do you feel about yourself? Do you think of yourself as
pretty or attractive?"
"I like myself. I know I'm not the prettiest girl, but I
don't think I'm ugly, if that's what you mean." Sam was starting
to get defensive.
"Okay. What do you think of Marie?"
"Marie? She great. Like we said, we hang out together all
the time. We're really good friends."
"Do you think she's pretty?"
"Yes. I mean, not like I'm a lez or anything, but she is
pretty."
"If you were a boy, would you go out with her?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"She's pretty, smart, and funny. Why wouldn't a guy want to
go out with her?"
"Then, why does she not have a boyfriend?" Russel asked.
"I don't know. Alot of guys used to approach her, but they
all had reps as dicks -- guys from our brother school. No one
approaches her anymore, because she's turned so many guys who were
dicks that she has a rep as a prude now."
"Have any guys ever approached you?"
"A few did after being turned down by Marie, but they were
all dicks looking for the next easy score after getting rejected
by Marie."
"How does that make you feel?"
"Like shit. Like I'm Marie's table scraps."
"Okay. You're doing great. You're expressing yourself very
well, and I know it's difficult to tell these thing to a
stranger," Russel assured and calmed her, as she was getting
worked up from the questions. "I'm only going to ask a few more
questions, okay?"
"Okay."
"Have you ever kissed a boy?"
"Not since my freshman year."
"Tell me about it."
"I was just dancing with this guy at the homecomming dance
and he started kissing me and grabbing me. I just pushed him
away."
"Okay. So was he the last person you kissed?"
"No." Sam akward looked away from the doctor.
"Who, then?"
"Marie. We tried practicing kissing each other."
"Did you like it?"
"Well, it was alright. It was better than the jerk at the
dance."
"That's understandable. They were completely different
circumstances and one wasn't your choice.
"Okay, Sam," Russel changed the subject. "I need to talk to
Marie now. Could you send send her in?"
"Okay."
Sam left the room, and a few seconds later, Marie appeared,
cautiously knocking on the door.
"Come in, come in and sit down."
Marie smiled at the doctor as she entered.
"Okay, Marie, tell me about yourself."
"Well, I'm a 17-year-old senior at Mary Wallace High. I
sing in the choir, and -- um -- I'm 5'10" and 115 lbs."
"Okay. That's good. Now tell about boys? Why do want
a boyfriend?"
"Well, I just want to have someone to hang out with, have
fun with, and a date to the school dances. And I want someone
who's not a complete and total jerk. That's the hard part."
Russel nodded. "Have you ever had a boyfriend?"
"Well, yeah. It usually doesn't last more than a week.
That's about how long it takes for one to start trying to get
into my pants. And then I dump them. I don't want that."
"Okay, Marie, now tell about Sam."
"Sam. She's great. She's smart and funny. She's pretty
strong, too -- I mean, she doesn't take crap from anyone. I
really like hanging out with her. We always have a good time
together."
"Do you think she's pretty?"
"Yeah. Sam's pretty."
"Do you think you're prettier?"
"Not really. I mean, I guess guys think I am, but Sam isn't
ugly, and she's a really great person."
"What do you think would happen if you two weren't friends?"
"I don't know. Sam kinda watches out for me. Like I said,
she's a strong person."
"If you were a boy, would you date Sam?"
"I don't know -- No, probably not. She's too outgoing, too
strong, I think, for most guys."
"Some guys like that, you know."
"Maybe. I just don't see any of the guys we meet being like
that."
The doctor paused for a moment, thinking with his fingertips
rubbing his chin. Finally, he started to talk again. "What if it
was reversed? What if Sam was a guy? Would you date her then?
With everything else the same -- interests, personality, likes and
dislikes -- but Sam was a guy, would you date her then?"
"Well, I guess I would." Marie looked away ashamed.
"Okay." He paused. "It's important to know these kind of
things, because they can help you focus on what you want in a
relationship. It doesn't mean that anything's wrong with you; it
just helps you to see what you want."
Marie, comforted by his reassurance, smiled.
"Marie, do you have any questions?"
She sat there, thinking for a moment, and finally said, "Yes,
just one. How do you think you can help us?"
Russel stood up and paced the length of the small room as he
planned his words. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to
Sam, he began, "Well, I can't really. I can't get you or Sam a
boyfriend. But what I can do is give you the tools that will
enable you two to empower yourselves, reach out with more
confidence and help yourselves find what you're looking for.
"Sounds like psych mumbo-jumbo, I know. But it really does
work, if you're willing to invest the time and effort to say with
it. Sometimes it will be easy, other times it might not be. But
you and Sam both made the appointment to talk to me because you
want to change something about yourselves. That was a really big
step, and often times one of the hardest to take.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Marie nodded.
"Okay. Is there anything you want to ask?"
"No."
"Very well. Can you please get Sam?"
"Okay," Marie said. She exited the room and went to Sam,
waiting in the lobby. Russel saw the girls whispering and
giggling, and then turn to return to the room.
"Well, girls, I learned a little about each you you, and your
relationship together, and I hope you learned a little about
yourselves.
"Now, I want to try a little game. Role playing. I want
both of you to imagine your boys, and you see yourselves walk by.
Okay. Think about that for a minute. You're a boy, and you see
your female selves walk by. What do you see?"
Sam started "I see two girls."
"Yes. Do they appeal to you?" Russel said.
"Well, one's really pretty, and the other's kinda pretty."
Sam's voice dropped as she put herself in a lower position than
Marie.
"Okay. Marie, how about you?"
"I see two hot girls." Marie paused. "I guess, if I were a
guy, I'd want to have sex with them."
"Both? Or just one?"
"Either. It doesn't matter. Sex is sex."
"Okay. Now stop. How do those images, of guys wanting you,
make you feel?"
"I guess it makes me feel less like a person," Sam said.
"Yeah, I feel cheap now," Marie said. "And no one did
anything but me."
"Okay. Very good. Now, Marie, I want you to play the role
of a boy. I want you to hit on Sam -- try to pick her up.
"Okay," Sam said, "but I'm not sure what you want."
"Get dramatic!" Russel said with a flamboyant shout. "Stand
up. Act it out." He paused to think for a moment. "Okay. Here's
what to do: Sam, go outside, and then come back in. When you see
Marie, pretend she's a cute boy, that you'd like to date. Marie,
you have an easier role -- jsut respond to Sam's actions, however
you see fit."
Sam exited the room, took a deep breath, and waited about
five seconds before reentering the room. She slowly walked in,
swaying her hips as sultrily as she could. She turned to Marie,
blowing her a kiss in her best Marilyn Monroe pose. This caused
Marie to stand up and walk over to Sam.
"Hi. You're cute," Marie squealed before cutting herself
off. "Er -- I mean -- um," she continued in a mock-baritone
voice, "Hey. You're hot."
That was enough to make both girls burst out laughing.
"Don't stop," Russel said. "Keep going."
"So, do you want to go out sometime, baby," Marie said as
she slapped Sam's ass.
"Sure," Sam said.
"Okay," Russel interrupted. "Marie, ask Sam to dance."
"Sam, would you like to dance?" Marie said in fake voice.
"Sure." The girls started to waltz together.
"No. Slow dance together. Closely," Russel commanded.
The girls pulled themselves together, resting their heads on
each others' shoulders with their arms around one another, slowly
swaying back and forth.
"Okay. That was good. You can stop now," Russel said.
"But do either of you think anything would ever go that was?" he
asked with a smile.
Both girls laughed as they said no.
Russel shot them both a smile, but his attention was on his
notes, as he busily jotted down his thoughts.