Sometime later, Betsey is watching The Program on Netflix. It all sounds so familiar. Here we are to face the trauma head-on. Only this time, we are free. We can leave. We are not trapped here anymore. We can get up and leave.
Betsey stops the documentary after a description of grooming behavior. This goes deep. We don’t have time or space to get into the really ugly stuff here, mostly because I don’t want to. There is only one thing on my silly little mind: Andrew.
Betsey looks over and notices a giant mushroom wearing glasses and lab coat standing next to her taking notes.
Betsey: Are you Paris Hilton?
Mushroom: No, we are the Scientists. We are studying your brain and behavior. I’m pleased to report we have located the problem and your brain is being successfully operated on now. You can feel the swelling in middle of your right lobe, correct?
Betsey: Yes. From right above my ear to the top of my head.
Mushroom: Very good. That is helpful information for us. Do you have any questions for us?
Betsey: I need to know what Andrew is.
Mushroom: Describe your Andrew to us.
Betsey: He is a man. I had a massive crush on him. He owned the bar I hung out at with my friends. Sometimes I would flirt with him. I did not think much of it. Then I started going in there alone to look for Mad Dog and I was writing all the time. I thought I noticed him looking at me. More than usual. In a different way. It was like that description. Special attention. But for whatever reason, he would not act on it. Instead it transferred into the notebook. And then it became something that I did not understand. The way he acts in the story… it is not like my husband. He is different. There is a dark power in him that scares me. I am afraid of him. I am afraid of the book. It has power over me I don’t understand. I don’t know what it is.
Mushroom: Do you believe you are the only one who has received his special attention?
Betsey: No. I don’t know anything about him. I just know it manifests in different ways. I’ve seen him change for people. He can transform. He can manipulate people. He figures out what you want from him and becomes that to get what he wants. That’s what it felt like to me. He glamoured me. I couldn’t get past it. I still can’t get past it. I’m still trapped there in that bar with him. He’s not even there anymore! And the worst part is… I wanted it. I invited him in. I didn’t understand it. It’s not right. It’s dark. It’s evil. It’s not right.
Mushroom: Burn it.
Betsey: I will.
Mushroom: He will answer for his crimes someday. Whatever they may be. He will answer for them. They always do. Somehow. Some way.
Betsey: *breathes a deep sigh of relief* Thank you.
Mushroom: You’ve had a hard day. You should eat something. What kind of pizza would you like? We always order it custom for our volunteer subjects.
Betsey: Extra cheese, half with pineapple. Stuffed crust please. Yasss. And cinammon stix too. Please. Thank you.
Mushroom: You’re so polite.
Betsey: I try.
Mushroom: Anything else you would like to say before we return to the study?
Betsey: Uhh… fuck this whole Troubled Teen Industry bullshit. I’ll do whatever I can to help take it down. I volunteer as tribute.
Mushroom: Thank you for your service. You are very brave.
To be continued…