Contents

Prologue DECEMBER 2002

1 I THINK MELANIE IS TRYING TO SAVE ME

2 THAT’S ILLEGAL OR SOMETHING, ISN’T IT?

3 I SHOULD PROBABLY CALL MY PARENTS

4 A WOMAN WITH JUMPER CABLES

5 I THINK PSYCHOLOGISTS CALL THAT TRANSFERENCE

6 YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF

7 I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I KNOW MY &%$@ NOW

8 YOUR DOCTOR CALLS YOU BY YOUR FIRST NAME?

9 GOD IS GREAT, GOD IS GOOD; LET US THANK HIM . . .

10 THE GIRL IN A COWGIRL SHIRT AND FLIP-FLOPS

11 TAKE A NUMBER AND SIT DOWN

12 DID I SAY IT WAS A STRAY CAT?

13 SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED

14 YOU’LL DO THE RIGHT THING

15 THANK YOU FOR CALLING ME MRS. SMILEY

16 THIS IS IT, LADIES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS