Chapter 1 - A Visit To The Psychiatrist
Dr. Chan listened carefully. A high ranking Minister in the Glorious
Communist People's Republic of China (whew!), the man on the couch had serious
family problems.
It was the same sad story re-enacted with pathetic, disheartening regularity
world-wide. His wife of many years no longer loved and respected him. She had
turned into a sharp tongued shrew, instead of the warmly supportive woman he
craved. A man in his position desperately needed the right sort of wife to get
ahead and she was letting him down badly. A divorce was messy and could be a
political disaster (and everything is politics in a Communist country).
His teenage daughter was always defying and belittling him. She sided with
her mom, and occasionally outdid her, in denigrating, sarcastic verbal abuse of
her over-achieving father. This confused and disheartened The Minister. Everyone
else respected and, indeed, feared him. Why couldn't his own family?
The Minister sat up and looked earnestly at the learned Doctor Chan of the
famed Blushing Blossom Counselling Centre.
"My sad and sorry home life is interfering with my work for the Party. It's
damaging my career and hurting my efforts to accomplish the ultimate goal of
Communist World Domination!"
Dr. Chan nodded sagely and sympathetically. He had heard it all before, a
very familiar tale of woe. The Minister spoke desperately.
"Can you help me, Doctor?"
Dr. Chan steepled his hands and looked thoughtful.
"Are your wife and daughter in good health?"
The Minister nodded and spoke sadly.
"They are in excellent health and have years (decades even!) of
pestilential paternal torment left in them! What's a man to do?"
Dr. Chan laughed merrily and clapped the Minister on the back.
"No problem! Send the bitches to me! I'll sharpen them up!"
