A recent call to Dr. Laura

To provide some relief from my current dry spell, I am recycling an entry I first posted more than a year ago.

DR LAURA: Our phone number here, one eight hundred Dr. Laura, one eight hundred D-R-L-A-U-R-A . . . Brianna! welcome to the program!

BRIANNA: Hi, Dr. Laura.

DR LAURA: What's up?

BRIANNA: I have a sort of a -- well, uh, it's a family issue that's, uh, been in the family a long time, and it's just now coming up again. It's causing problems for the family again. And I'm not sure what to do. I don't want it to separate us again.

DR LAURA: What's the problem?

BRIANNA: Well, I thought we had it taken care of, but apparently it's back again. I just don't know what to do. I thought I could finally trust my father. He'd been in counseling, and my mother forgave him and let him back into the house —

DR LAURA: Brianna, OK, Brianna. Brianna, first tell me What your problem is.

BRIANNA: Well, it started a couple of days ago when I found a dead rabbit in our yard.

DR LAURA: A dead rabbit.

BRIANNA: Yeah. Like, ripped apart — like a dog had gotten it, you know?

DR LAURA: OK . . . .

BRIANNA: But we don't have a dog.

DR LAURA: You don't.

BRIANNA: No. Not for three years, in fact.

DR LAURA: I'm not sure where this is —

BRIANNA: We have a fence.

DR LAURA: OK . . . .

BRIANNA: And this rabbit was inside our fence. [Sigh] And that's not all. I also found our trash cans tipped over and the trash bags, like, torn open. [Begins to cry] We put some fish leftovers in there, see.

DR LAURA: I don't see what this has to do with your father, Brianna.

BRIANNA: It's a really heavy trash can. It's so big — It's — It's one of those thick plastic ones, on wheels. And it's, like, four feet high.

DR LAURA: Brianna, you're not listening to me. What does this have to do with your father?

BRIANNA: Well, he . . . and here's the thing. He says he didn't do it.

DR LAURA: Do what?

BRIANNA: Kill the bunny.

DR LAURA: Who says he didn't do it?

BRIANNA: My father.

DR LAURA: You think your father killed the bunny?

BRIANNA: I don't know who else could have done it. Am I wrong to suspect him? 'Cause when I confronted him, he was like, I'm the bad guy because I'm accusing him falsely and I don't trust him and stuff . . . .

DR LAURA: What, you think he ate it?

BRIANNA: Well, that's what I want to know. Am I wrong to suspect him?

DR LAURA: Well, it's, uh, it's really hard for me to sit here and tell you that your father just killed a bunny rabbit. Is there some reason for your suspicion?

BRIANNA: Well . . . it's kind of embarassing to get into this, but . . . .

DR LAURA: What? You called me up. If I'm going to help you, you're going to have to give me the whole story.

BRIANNA: Well, it runs in the family. My grandfather had it too.

DR LAURA: "It"?

BRIANNA: Lycanthropy.

DR LAURA: I see.

[Awkward silence]

BRIANNA: We thought he had it under control. Like, he was in therapy for a year, and he had this support group. But six months ago he stopped going. He said he was cured.

DR LAURA: [Sigh]

BRIANNA: We held him a [sniff] — we held him a party when he got out of the rehab center. We were, like, so happy, and now —

DR LAURA: Well, I don't know what to tell you, Brianna. It sounds as if he's in denial.

BRIANNA: Yeah.

DR LAURA: You've talked with him about this? Does your mom know?

BRIANNA: Yeah. She just said . . . like, you know, it's no big deal —

DR LAURA: She thinks this is no big deal?

BRIANNA: Yeah. She said not to worry about it. She said she would talk to him.

DR LAURA: Brianna, your mother is an enabler.

BRIANNA: Yeah.

DR LAURA: And there may not be much you can do about it.

BRIANNA: I just feel so —

DR LAURA: Are there any outdoor pets in the neighborhood?

BRIANNA: We live near a park. People walk their dogs there. And our neighbor keeps cats.

DR LAURA: It sounds as if your mother is setting you guys up for major liability, here. As long as she — as long as she tolerates this kind of behavior, your father has nothing to lose. She's enabling his irresponsible behavior.

BRIANNA: Yeah. How can I get her to do something about it?

DR LAURA: Well, I don't know. I think he needs professional help, first of all. Second of all, you need to get him out of that neighborhood and into someplace a little more urban.

BRIANNA: Yeah.

DR LAURA: But this is going to be a fairly major adjustment for your mother as well as your dad.

BRIANNA: Yeah.

DR LAURA: Are you religious?

BRIANNA: I think we're Protestant.

DR LAURA: Well, I think you should start by speaking with a minister. I wouldn't necessarily talk to a Protestant, though; I think Rome is generally a little better at handling these things. I would talk to someone who knows about exorcisms, preferably someone with some background in cryptozoology. Maybe he can assess the situation and come up with a plan.

BRIANNA: OK.

DR LAURA: But ultimately, it's up to your father to get help.

BRIANNA: Yeah.

DR LAURA: All you can do is encourage him to face his own behavior, and take responsibility.

BRIANNA: Yeah.

DR LAURA: But I think the fact that you're taking an interest will go a long way toward helping him. These are the times, you know, when we need family.

BRIANNA: Yeah.

DR LAURA: So phone your local diocese and see if they can recommend a professional. Then try to get your parents to talk to him.

BRIANNA: Right.

DR LAURA: Oh, and Brianna — warn your neighbor to keep the cat indoors when there's a full moon.

BRIANNA: OK.

DR LAURA: [Sigh] Now go do the right thing.

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