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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes 2013 Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

- Chapter IV -

- MEDICAL CONSULTATION WITH DR. JARACOSOLI Dr. Jaracosoli closes the door behind Archimedes. With a pompous gesture of his hand, he points out the seats in front of the desk. Archimedes comes in, unloads his bag and stands waiting for the doctor to perform all procedures framing the session. The doctor finishes making his ritualistic formalities of doorknobs locking, closures of curtains and other preambles all characterized by theatrical semicircular movements. He gives a whole lap around the sacred altar, represented by great good wood desktop, surrounding the boy until reaching to stand in front of his privileged seat, where might well have come just walking straight line. Once located standing up there, in front of Archimedes, asks him to sit down. Then he takes his seat in a slow, ceremonial, and highly professional way. In case needed a bit more of ostentation, Dr. Jaracosoli unfolds the smart tan colored jacket and gently wraps the tablet. Then he takes a notepad, a pen that he puts aside, and opens a medical form. It seems that now, the doctor considers that the frame is the recommended as correct, and the session can be started. Dr. Jaracosoli (Writing something on his pad.) - Well. (Looks up) You will say ... What brings you here, after all this time? Archimedes. - Well ... I hummm ..., errm... emm ..., no, no ... I, um... I decided to come ... because ... em ... because I have some little problems, errm... ahm ... yeah... Dr. Jaracosoli (Writes and writes.) - Aaah-ha! ... (Pause, and abruptly) What kind? Archimedes (Babbling.) - Kindaaa ... aaah, kind of ..., noo, ermm ... no, I... Dr. Jaracosoli (Without looking.) - I listen. Archimedes. - Errm ... I say, no, I, ahm ... I have nightmares ... yes ... and ... I can not sleep ..., yesss... that... Dr. Jaracosoli (Reviewing the medical record.) - Since when? Archimedes. What? Dr. Jaracosoli. - Yes. How long have you suffered from sleep disorders? Archimedes. - Hum ... pah ... I don't know ..., anddd ... makes a lot. Dr. Jaracosoli (Looking at him sidelong over his glasses.) - When did the nightmares start? Archimedes. - Huh? Ah, yeah, sure ... the nightmares? Erm Since ... about... anddd... say ... two months or so... Dr. Jaracosoli. - What happened to you? Archimedes. - Mmm...? Dr. Jaracosoli. - Two months ago, I mean, what happened to you two months ago? Archimedes. - Well ..., erm ..., the truth...? Of all, has happened to me. 2
Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes 2013 Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

So there stays Archimedes, looking around all objects on the desktop. While thinking of everything and hardly trying to select a specific idea to start telling his problems, he stares at each of the objects out there, like the ivory paperweights, a statue with a bust of Sigmund Freud, but , wait a minute, is not that Beethoven? Yes maybe, that is... not, can not be. Oh well... Anyway... There are other objects or all sorts over the table. There is a Transactional Analysis book in whose cover it reads "I'm OK, You're OK" ( ), a pencil holders made in pyrography wooden, filled with ball point pens of various colors and ... a bulb mate. Some agendas beautifully bound in leather lizard, some pens Parker and more pens rather like business gifts type, placed in perfect perpendicular lines regarding to the leather-bound, and a craft calendar of the year ... 1992, obviously a souvenir. There is also another cardboard calendar year 2009, two crystal miniatures: one with the symbol of yin and yang, and another in the shape of a baby elephant, a disposable spoon of ice cream... At this point, there is a deep silence. Obviously, Dr. Jaracosoli does not have the slightest intention to break it. Since the doctor is willing to keep waiting, Archimedes continues as best he can. Archimedes. - Look ... I want to tell you ... that I ... I stopped coming ..., here, right? ... because ... I lost my job. They sent me to the unemployment, and ... Ta ( i), I could not keep paying thaaa ... therapy, yeah ... I mean, no ... I could not ... Dr. Jaracosoli. - It is a pity ... that you have interrupted therapy. (Checks the medical record) You worked in the Ministry of...? Archimedes. - No, umm ... no, I worked on the Judiciary. Dr. Jaracosoli. - Oh, yes, yes, in the Judiciary, of course. (You have to give time to the doctor, to finish writing his interesting deductions) Yeah, yeah ... You had told me on a previous occasion, about your work. (Flipping through old entries in the file) I have it written down here ... Let's see, oh, yes, yes, you was very happy in your new job, right? Archimedes. - Well, yes ... yes ... the truth, erm ... it was a good job. Dr. Jaracosoli (Confronting him.) - And what did you do to get you fired? Archimedes. - Uh...? Me? No... I mean, me... nothing. There were some budget cuts ... it seems they had to ... how do you say? ..., they had to lay people off ... And they pulled me out, to me. Dr. Jaracosoli (Nonstop handwriting.) - I see ... So, what else? Archimedes. - What else...? Dr. Jaracosoli. - Of your life ... What about of the rest of your life? Archimedes. - Ah, yes, of course ... Well, turns out that I had a ... a girlfriend, right? Natalia... Dr. Jaracosoli. - Nataaa-lia ...? Na-talia! Yes, yes, of course, that girl with whom you went out last year ... who was very pretty ..., student of Communication Sciences..., very polite ..., from a good family ... Archimedes (Looking at the doctor, his face contorted.) - Well, actually...

I'm OK, You're OK, by Thomas A Harris MD. A bestseller self-help book first published in 1967. i "Ta".- Slang word in Spanish, commonly used to say "est" (it is). In Uruguay, when someone answers by saying "Ta", means "ya est", i.e. "all right", "it's done", "I got it", "understood" or "ready". That is the case for the current Archimedes sayings.

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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes 2013 Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

Dr. Jaracosoli (Still in his notes.) - ... and with whom you wanted to formalize a relationship. (Looks up) Yes, tell me...? Archimedes. - No, yes, I mean ..., from a good family, yes, good ... people. Dr. Jaracosoli. - And ..., what happened to ... (Reads again) Natalia? Archimedes. - We finished. Well, I mean ... no, rather, she ... em ..., how is it? ended with ... me, yes ... Dr. Jaracosoli. - So ... (Writes faster and faster now), your girlfriend abandoned you. Archimedes (Nods, looking down.) - ... yes. Dr. Jaracosoli (Facing him, blurts.) - She left you for another man? Archimedes makes a jerky movement, as if it had been inserted a thermometer in his anal sphincter. He takes a while to react, this time.

...

Archimedes. - ... for another? Uh ... well, that ... I don't know. She left me ..., ta Dr. Jaracosoli. - And did she explain why?

Archimedes (Overwhelmed.) - Eh? ... Well, yes ... something she told me ... Said something like she wanted to marry a lawyer. Dr. Jaracosoli (Looking at his notes.) - Laaawyer ... Ah-ha! Well, my esteemed, you are a law student. Someday you will be a lawyer ... of course. Unless ... she has an affair with some ... let us say, with a professor, a graduated lawyer... For a moment, Archimedes is undaunted. From the archives of his own memories, a fairly recent file jumps out, and is opened by itself. In a split second, some very vivid reminiscences are refloated in his mind. Unwittingly relives a scene worthy of oblivion. This time, he sees himself within it. .............................. It is a November night, although still are bearing some lights from a sunset that already gently dies. On the sidewalk of a street in Malvin ( ), Archimedes is standing with one hand over the low wall of the entrance of a house. He appears to be with a puzzled expression, having a conversation with a girl standing in front of him. The streetlights are partially illuminating the face of Archimedes, highlighting the brightness of the sweating, and another different brightness in his eyes with a glint in his cheek, unmistakable traces of recent tears. The girl, of straight reddish brown hair and blouse with horizontal stripes, talks incessantly, with great emphasis, judging by the convulsive movements of her back. Apparently, with folded arms, she is the one who speaks, and he is the one who listens. Natalia. - ... so that, no. This way, no. Archimedes. - But ..., Naty ... Why? if I ... Natalia. - Oh, Archimedes, I already explained! This way, I don't want. And that's it. Archimedes. - But I don't understand ... What you don't want? Me? Or what?

Malvn. - Neighborhood (or district) of Montevideo, Uruguay, located at the East of the city, in front of the coastal venue called Rambla O'Higgins.

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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes 2013 Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

Natalia. - No, not that you don't understand. You don't want to understand, that is not the same. I was the girlfriend of a law student, and now ...I don't know with whom I am. I don't know who you are now. And to top it off, unemployed? No! No way! Archimedes (Exercising patience.) - But, Natalia, is that the whole story? You..., when was the last time that you went to the College? And do I tell you something about it? Me, to you? No, I don't say anything. Natalia. - Enough! Do not compare, because there is no comparison. It's over, Archimedes. And it will be better for you to go now, because it is already half past nine. I have things to do. Archimedes. - See? There you are evading. Because, what's that so important you have to do? Huh? We are talking, and I will... Natalia (Getting impatient.) - Archimedes, at this time I should be watching "Celebrity Burning", and I'm losing it because of you. Besides, you know perfectly well, every day at ten PM, I watch "Ardent Market Of Love", and I'm not willing to miss seeing the scenes of the previous chapter. So do not waste more of my time. I already lost enough. Archimedes (Instigating her.) - And that's all the "Science Communication" that you study? Oh well, you're being really hard on yourself, huh... Natalia. - Just so you know, we students of communication, we have to look much, much! television. Besides ... what's that sneer? There's nothing wrong with being a television viewer. Television informs, entertains, instructs. You learn a lot by watching TV. Archimedes. Look that by studying you learn a lot too... Natalia. - And so what? I am not going to College now because ... Archimedes. - ... because it is uncomfortable. Natalia. - No..., because... it is not for me, not for this moment. I'm a family girl. I enjoy being at home with mommy, and helping daddy at the bakery. Archimedes (Beside himself) - Helping...? But what are you What are you talking about? Help, when do you help to your father? On what? By eating muffins and breads that came passed roasting! ... So, you are neither working, nor studying, but I don't make much drama, see? Natalia. - Aaah, as if you had not taken advantage of! No??! Good that you ate it all, you too ... Look, Archimedes, I'm going to say one thing to you: Do not you dare mess with my family. Let this be the last time! Besides, is not the same, you than me. First of all, I AM A WOMAN And secondly, I am a homely girl from a good family. I will not let anyone take advantage of me. Archimedes (Given up.)- But ... what are you telling me, Naty? Nobody said you were not from a good fam (ily)... Natalia. - That I no longer want to continue with you. That's what I'm saying. Archimedes. - But, Naty, I do love you... Natalia. - So if you love me ... that. Archimedes. - What? That if I love you, what?

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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes 2013 Jacqueline Petingi Labastie

Natalia. - Well, that ..., you know ... that I want to marry a lawyer. Or a guy with money. Me, with an uncouth, I'm not going to stay. So, you think well, if you want to keep seeing me ... or what. Archimedes stays dumbfounded, watching her. After a minimal pause, she simply says "- Bye." and turns around to get into her home, very fast, like a shadow. .............................. Dr. Jaracosoli (Raising his voice.) - Can you hear me?! ... Archimedes (Startled.) - Huh?! ...

Portrait of Archimedes

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Wanted Executioner: The Tragicomedy Of Archimedes 2013 Jacqueline Petingi Labastie