Family Matters 225Mitchell’s frown turned upside down. “Thank you,”
he said.
“This is going to be hard,” said the father. “And no
more sarcasm either?”
“Not if you guys want your son to start talking to
you again,” the therapist said.
“Where’s that team spirit, fellas?” the mother
chimed in.
“That’s sarcasm,” the therapist interjected.
“Ooo, this guy is tough,” said the father, turning to
his wife. “I don’t like coming here anymore.” He smiled.
“That’s sarcasm, too,” the therapist said.
“My husband isn’t accustomed to being corrected,”
said the mother.
“Oh, that reminds me of the last bad habit,” the
therapist said.
“Oh, God, what did I say?” the mother said, cover-
ing her mouth.
“You guys talk for one another a lot,” the therapist
said, “like you can read one another’s minds.”
“Well, we know one another very well,” said the
mother.
“That may be,” the therapist said, “but from what
I’ve observed, your speculations about one another are
often off-target, and they don’t go over very well.”
“What’d you call it?” asked the mother.
“Speculation,” the therapist said. “Thinking you