THINNER
by
Antigone
Chapter 24
The Chapters
“I’m
going to recommend that your son stay here a minimum of three weeks.”
Frank felt his nerves jar: his parents similarly jumped.
“Weeks?” Laura gasped.
“That’s right,” Dr. Ziv said. “Our intensive impatient
program is three weeks. We have to appeal to the insurance company, of
course, but your son meets our qualifications, both weight-wise and
psychologically. From what you’ve told us, and from what Joe has
admitted to, combined with his denial, matches our qualifications for
anorexia nervosa. With bulimic tendencies.”
Fenton took a deep breath, then sighed. “All right,” he said
softly. “Tell us the plan.”
“We’ll have your son moved to the eating disorder ward on the
sixth floor. He’ll be given three balanced meals plus snacks, with a
caloric consumption determined by his nutritionist. His day will consist
of group and individual therapy as well as nutrition and psychiatric
sessions twice a week. He’ll be medicated for depression, as determined
by his psychiatrist. We’ll work with him on exercise issues, food
myths, body image, and his other symptoms, as well as insure that he gets
back to a healthy weight and stops purging. Provided he’s compliant,
that is. If he’s not…we’ll put him on contract, and on supplements,
and if he still resists treatment…well, let’s think positively for
now.”
“He’ll…we’ll be able to visit right?” Laura asked.
“Of course. Every Sunday we have visiting hours. Plus, there
will be family therapy sessions twice a week.”
The doctor went on to explain the treatment process, issues
focused on in therapy, the duration of his stay, health
insurance—things that Frank simply couldn’t focus on because he was
suddenly feeling sick again. Joe wasn’t coming home: this was the
bottom line. He’d have to stay here, on a psychiatric floor, and
be essentially force-fed.
What was happening? Was this the same brother who was so
confident he could be almost cocky, the same brother who had eyed girls
with appreciation, flirted and grinned and charmed his way through life?
The brother who had a passion and zest and emotional range that left the
elder Hardy boy stunned in admiration in the wake of his brightness. Joe
had taken on the world as Frank never could, pausing only long enough to
grip his brother’s hand and pull him along. And Frank had gone, blinded
by admiration, envious of his brother’s emotion, his ability to sweep
through and leave the world stunned. His younger brother could
not…could not be…
But he is, Frank thought, with his customary logic and
discipline, he is anorexic. He is bulimic. He is depressed. And he
will be staying here and getting help for that. He won’t want it, but
I’ll convince him, we’ll convince him, we’ll get him through it.
We’ll do it together, like we always have. I can pull him along too.
“Dad,” Frank said, interrupting the psychiatrist’s spiel.
“I’m going to see him.”
Fenton, his features drawn and weary, shook his head. “Us
first,” he said firmly.
“But—”
“Maybe you can convince him when we can’t.”
“Fenton,” Laura sighed, “no ‘good cop bad cop.’ Not with
our son.”
But Fenton and Frank held each other’s gaze, a silent
understanding passing between them.
He’s grown up too fast, Fenton thought sadly, seeing a
wisdom in his often unreadable elder child that never ceased to amaze
him. He shouldn’t have to be Joe’s
father. Not now, of all times when he needs parents…
When they both need parents.
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The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.