Aunt Jemima Pancakes to The Rescue-a Report From The Front Line

byThaboN

508 followers

6 years ago

So I was one hour into my shift, as counselor for The Office of Mental Health, when one of my clients met me in the kitchen of the residence and complained that he hadn't had much sleep because he had an anxiety attack at 1:30 in the morning. Naturally I was concerned. However, before I could say anything another client, let's call him CW, chimed in with even more disturbing news. He said, "I think my mother is going to die in her wheelchair at the nursing home with this Coronavirus going on."

"Don't be so negative", my third client AJ said. I turned around and saw AJ sitting at the table and about to pour milk in his cereal bowl. He continued, "There's no need for you to go down that road. Your mother isn't going to die just because she is at a nursing home and in a wheel chair. Don't be so damn negative."

By this time my first client, MD, had forgotten about his anxiety or at least didn't think it was important. He too pulled CW from his funk. He said, "Hey man, your mom is going to be okay. You can't keep thinking about the worst thing that can happen. I do that sometimes and that's not the way to go. Man don't you see how I'm battling with my anxiety? But I don't give into the negative stuff."

Something told me to take a step back and I did. I slowly walked out of the kitchen. About twenty minutes later a big belly laugh came from AJ. I went to see what the commotion was about. MD was trying to make pancakes and AJ and CW were not impressed.

"Man that is the sorriest Aunt Jemima pancake I have ever seen," said AJ. CW leaned over to look at MD's mess of a pancake. "That's pretty bad, guy. Aunt Jemima isn't going to be happy with you."

There was more laughter. "I'll show you how to make good pancakes, " said AJ.

"First thing you gotta do is use the right pan," continued AJ as he reached in the cabinet.

As the laughter continued, I took a look at CW. He cracked a joke and I knew that at least for the time being he was going to be okay. Aunt Jemima pancakes to the rescue I thought to myself as I walked away. They didn't even notice I was leaving, and that was okay with me.