Post by cam83 on Mar 25, 2004 0:43:30 GMT -5
Chapter Thirty-Seven
That evening, when most of the younger kids were in bed, and the older ones were absorbed in a movie, Karen and Jon managed to get Catharine and her husband alone in one of the rooms, and began to talk. Jon's other siblings were busy elsewhere in the house, as well as watching some of the kids.
"We wanted to talk to you about Kristi," began Jonathon, when he was interrupted by Catharine.
"Oh not this again! I already told you Jon that there is nothing wrong with Kristi. She doesn't have anorexia! I would know if she did. She just has a tiny frame for her size…" sputtered Catharine, as she glanced helplessly at her husband who didn't say anything.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of Catharine. It's not your fault. But, I know from my own experience that she is suffering, even though she may appear emotionally fine. Judging from the photos that Mother showed me, Kristi has lost weight in the last year…and I would say at least a good 40 pounds. Maybe you don't notice it, like I did, but she is very thin. She just manages to hide it. She does her best to skip meals…haven't you noticed that she makes excuses, or lies and says that she has already eaten?" said Karen in a concerned voice.
Catharine's face seemed to change, as she thought about it, and Karen knew that a light bulb went on in Catharine's head. She probably was too preoccupied to have noticed anything out of the ordinary.
"She does make a lot of excuses, I must say. Or she says she already grabbed a bite to eat, and usually I am too busy to notice anyway, well, with my job and family, and everything," said Catharine in an apologetic way, as she fidgeted with her hands, and glancing down towards the floor.
" I understand Catharine, I really do. Jon and I were concerned and we wanted to let you know that we support and want to help in any way possible. Is there something you want us to do. Would you want me to talk to her?" asked Karen, looking her sister in law in the face, whose eyes were tearing up. Karen went and sat beside her, and put her arms around Catharine, who started to shake as she sobbed.
The men just glanced at each other and decided to leave the room and give them more privacy. Karen knew that Jon would go and get Kristi. Since they were so close, it was almost as if they could read each other's mind, not quite but close enough.
A few minutes later, Kristi entered the room, and stopped short when she saw her Auntie Karen and her Mom sitting on the bed. She immediately went to her Mom, as she saw that her Mom had been crying.
"What happened Mom? Is something wrong?" asked Kristi, as she went and sat on the other side of her Mother. She glanced at her Auntie and at her Mom, wondering what was going on.
"Kristi," began Karen, "we love you so very much, and your Mom is crying because we don't want you to die…" but was interrupted by Kristi, who jumped up and glared at them asking, "What do you mean, me dying?" she asked in a suspicious voice.
"Well, if you continue on starving yourself, you will die. We love you, and we want you to eat, and get better. You're way too thin," said Karen in a quiet, calm voice.
She still never imagined that she would be counselling a young girl on anorexia. It just seemed like yesterday that she had battled from the grips of anorexia. What did she know? She knew a lot, and out of her painful experiences, she knew that she could help someone who was struggling with it. And she loved her niece so much. She had been one of her flower girls at her wedding.
"I am fine Auntie Karen!" she said with such a forceful manner, almost to convince everyone that she was indeed fine. Her face paled as her Auntie Karen stared at her. She loved her Auntie Karen so much. She admired her voice, her beauty, and her lovingness towards her. Karen went over to hug her niece, who started to cry, and whimpered, "But I am fine, really! I just want to stay slim. Is that so wrong?"
Karen let Catharine hold her daughter, and she left the room, closing the door on her way out. She knew that they needed to talk to each, and if they needed her, she would come and assist in any way possible. Karen wrapped her arms around Jon, who was waiting by the stairs. "I think she knows that she has a problem, but it won't be easy Jon. She'll need a lot of help, and support. Why does she feel the need to starve herself? She is so pretty, and so outgoing," said Karen in a sad voice. How ironic those words were, especially since they had, at one time been aimed at her.
They walked into the huge living room where most of the family was gathered. They were in the middle of watching SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Plates of cookies, desserts, snacks and various beverages filled the coffee table, and everyone was helping themselves. The light from the flickering flames of the fireplace and the glow from the television screen filled the room. The huge Christmas tree in the corner of the room was filled with all sorts of decorations, and underneath were presents by the hundreds. It was especially hard for the children, who wanted to touch and open the gifts, but they had to be restrained. Now, that they were in bed, it was the adults who had the hard part of not being too curious. They too, wanted to open the presents.
Karen and Jon headed to the one corner of the room, where there was a breakfast nook, which provided them some privacy. There they sat with Katie and Daniel, who were sharing a loveseat, and talking no doubt about their fears and worries.
"Do you mind if we join you?" asked Karen, before she and Jon seated themselves opposite them, on adjoining wicker chairs.
"Of course not. Dan and I were just talking about Kristi…we've been worried for her, for quite awhile. As you know, we tried to talk to her parents, but they wouldn't admit there was a problem…they just thought maybe we were blowing things out of proportion…and we thought, until you brought it up, that maybe we were," said Katie, as she looked at her husband for approval, who nodded, "but now, we realize that something is wrong…Are they still talking?"
"I just left them, and they were hugging, so I think that's a good sign, but it's not going to be easy. This is just the beginning. Prepare yourself for a long and hard fight. Right now, she needs a listening ear, and a shoulder to cry on, but chances are she may retreat back into her shell, and continue starving and using her anorexic tendencies, which may seem very bizarre and unusual. Whatever you do, don't withdraw your love, or threaten her. She'll need professional help, probably a counsellor or someone she can get help. Do you know of any such agencies?" Karen asked Daniel and Katie, who were looking at each other in confusion.
"Well, I think so. I will have to ask around, and see about that, but I am sure of it. If there is no eating disorder services, then maybe in Regina. I just talked to Derrick and they had been talking that maybe Kristi would stay with us for awhile, and not because of the problem, but because her marks had been going down a bit in school, and maybe she needed a new break for awhile, at least. He's in there with them right now. I told him that he needs to be in there, and to stay there. He didn't seem too pleased, but I told him, that being a father means being there for the good and bad," stated Daniel, with a chuckle.
Karen really liked her father in law. He was so easy going, and in fact, he seemed to remind of her own Dad, whom she missed every single day. It would be almost 4 years since he died, and her only regret was that her children would not be able to know their Grandfather. That was why she wanted and made the effort, for them to get to know Jon's parents. They needed that very much, to have the unending love that only Grandparents could seem to give.
They started to talk about other things, and Jon went to fill up a cup of coffee for him and Karen. They started to talk about Karen's musical career, and were entertained about stories of the things that fans would do to meet her and Richard. Pretty soon, everyone was laughing and the mood lifted briefly. An hour passed, when Catharine and Derrick returned and sat with them.
"She responded, and we started talking, and I don't know…everything started to go wrong...and I lost my temper at her…" at this Catharine broke down, and Jon went to hug and console his sister.
"Well, I guess we will have to get her some counselling treatments. She is terribly underweight, and if she doesn't pull her weight up soon, hospitalization may be the next course of action," said Daniel.
"Maybe, her staying here will be a blessing in disguise. She needs time to reflect and unwind, and be alone from the pressures of her life back in Regina, don't you think dear?" asked Katie to Catharine, who just nodded, otherwise she would continue with her heavy weeping.
Karen took the empty cups into the kitchen, and proceeded to fill up the dishwasher. She wiped some of the crumbs off the counter, anything to keep her busy. She felt her niece's pain, and wished there was something she could do, but there was nothing she could do right now. Just continue to love her. She decided to go and check on Cynthia and see how she was faring. She found that Cynthia was being held by some of the older female cousins, who loved to hold and play with their "doll", which Karen kind of found amusing. Cynthia turned to look at her mother, and she began to wave her arms, and laugh as only a baby can. She took Cynthia in her arms, and went to feed her in her room.
That evening, when most of the younger kids were in bed, and the older ones were absorbed in a movie, Karen and Jon managed to get Catharine and her husband alone in one of the rooms, and began to talk. Jon's other siblings were busy elsewhere in the house, as well as watching some of the kids.
"We wanted to talk to you about Kristi," began Jonathon, when he was interrupted by Catharine.
"Oh not this again! I already told you Jon that there is nothing wrong with Kristi. She doesn't have anorexia! I would know if she did. She just has a tiny frame for her size…" sputtered Catharine, as she glanced helplessly at her husband who didn't say anything.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of Catharine. It's not your fault. But, I know from my own experience that she is suffering, even though she may appear emotionally fine. Judging from the photos that Mother showed me, Kristi has lost weight in the last year…and I would say at least a good 40 pounds. Maybe you don't notice it, like I did, but she is very thin. She just manages to hide it. She does her best to skip meals…haven't you noticed that she makes excuses, or lies and says that she has already eaten?" said Karen in a concerned voice.
Catharine's face seemed to change, as she thought about it, and Karen knew that a light bulb went on in Catharine's head. She probably was too preoccupied to have noticed anything out of the ordinary.
"She does make a lot of excuses, I must say. Or she says she already grabbed a bite to eat, and usually I am too busy to notice anyway, well, with my job and family, and everything," said Catharine in an apologetic way, as she fidgeted with her hands, and glancing down towards the floor.
" I understand Catharine, I really do. Jon and I were concerned and we wanted to let you know that we support and want to help in any way possible. Is there something you want us to do. Would you want me to talk to her?" asked Karen, looking her sister in law in the face, whose eyes were tearing up. Karen went and sat beside her, and put her arms around Catharine, who started to shake as she sobbed.
The men just glanced at each other and decided to leave the room and give them more privacy. Karen knew that Jon would go and get Kristi. Since they were so close, it was almost as if they could read each other's mind, not quite but close enough.
A few minutes later, Kristi entered the room, and stopped short when she saw her Auntie Karen and her Mom sitting on the bed. She immediately went to her Mom, as she saw that her Mom had been crying.
"What happened Mom? Is something wrong?" asked Kristi, as she went and sat on the other side of her Mother. She glanced at her Auntie and at her Mom, wondering what was going on.
"Kristi," began Karen, "we love you so very much, and your Mom is crying because we don't want you to die…" but was interrupted by Kristi, who jumped up and glared at them asking, "What do you mean, me dying?" she asked in a suspicious voice.
"Well, if you continue on starving yourself, you will die. We love you, and we want you to eat, and get better. You're way too thin," said Karen in a quiet, calm voice.
She still never imagined that she would be counselling a young girl on anorexia. It just seemed like yesterday that she had battled from the grips of anorexia. What did she know? She knew a lot, and out of her painful experiences, she knew that she could help someone who was struggling with it. And she loved her niece so much. She had been one of her flower girls at her wedding.
"I am fine Auntie Karen!" she said with such a forceful manner, almost to convince everyone that she was indeed fine. Her face paled as her Auntie Karen stared at her. She loved her Auntie Karen so much. She admired her voice, her beauty, and her lovingness towards her. Karen went over to hug her niece, who started to cry, and whimpered, "But I am fine, really! I just want to stay slim. Is that so wrong?"
Karen let Catharine hold her daughter, and she left the room, closing the door on her way out. She knew that they needed to talk to each, and if they needed her, she would come and assist in any way possible. Karen wrapped her arms around Jon, who was waiting by the stairs. "I think she knows that she has a problem, but it won't be easy Jon. She'll need a lot of help, and support. Why does she feel the need to starve herself? She is so pretty, and so outgoing," said Karen in a sad voice. How ironic those words were, especially since they had, at one time been aimed at her.
They walked into the huge living room where most of the family was gathered. They were in the middle of watching SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Plates of cookies, desserts, snacks and various beverages filled the coffee table, and everyone was helping themselves. The light from the flickering flames of the fireplace and the glow from the television screen filled the room. The huge Christmas tree in the corner of the room was filled with all sorts of decorations, and underneath were presents by the hundreds. It was especially hard for the children, who wanted to touch and open the gifts, but they had to be restrained. Now, that they were in bed, it was the adults who had the hard part of not being too curious. They too, wanted to open the presents.
Karen and Jon headed to the one corner of the room, where there was a breakfast nook, which provided them some privacy. There they sat with Katie and Daniel, who were sharing a loveseat, and talking no doubt about their fears and worries.
"Do you mind if we join you?" asked Karen, before she and Jon seated themselves opposite them, on adjoining wicker chairs.
"Of course not. Dan and I were just talking about Kristi…we've been worried for her, for quite awhile. As you know, we tried to talk to her parents, but they wouldn't admit there was a problem…they just thought maybe we were blowing things out of proportion…and we thought, until you brought it up, that maybe we were," said Katie, as she looked at her husband for approval, who nodded, "but now, we realize that something is wrong…Are they still talking?"
"I just left them, and they were hugging, so I think that's a good sign, but it's not going to be easy. This is just the beginning. Prepare yourself for a long and hard fight. Right now, she needs a listening ear, and a shoulder to cry on, but chances are she may retreat back into her shell, and continue starving and using her anorexic tendencies, which may seem very bizarre and unusual. Whatever you do, don't withdraw your love, or threaten her. She'll need professional help, probably a counsellor or someone she can get help. Do you know of any such agencies?" Karen asked Daniel and Katie, who were looking at each other in confusion.
"Well, I think so. I will have to ask around, and see about that, but I am sure of it. If there is no eating disorder services, then maybe in Regina. I just talked to Derrick and they had been talking that maybe Kristi would stay with us for awhile, and not because of the problem, but because her marks had been going down a bit in school, and maybe she needed a new break for awhile, at least. He's in there with them right now. I told him that he needs to be in there, and to stay there. He didn't seem too pleased, but I told him, that being a father means being there for the good and bad," stated Daniel, with a chuckle.
Karen really liked her father in law. He was so easy going, and in fact, he seemed to remind of her own Dad, whom she missed every single day. It would be almost 4 years since he died, and her only regret was that her children would not be able to know their Grandfather. That was why she wanted and made the effort, for them to get to know Jon's parents. They needed that very much, to have the unending love that only Grandparents could seem to give.
They started to talk about other things, and Jon went to fill up a cup of coffee for him and Karen. They started to talk about Karen's musical career, and were entertained about stories of the things that fans would do to meet her and Richard. Pretty soon, everyone was laughing and the mood lifted briefly. An hour passed, when Catharine and Derrick returned and sat with them.
"She responded, and we started talking, and I don't know…everything started to go wrong...and I lost my temper at her…" at this Catharine broke down, and Jon went to hug and console his sister.
"Well, I guess we will have to get her some counselling treatments. She is terribly underweight, and if she doesn't pull her weight up soon, hospitalization may be the next course of action," said Daniel.
"Maybe, her staying here will be a blessing in disguise. She needs time to reflect and unwind, and be alone from the pressures of her life back in Regina, don't you think dear?" asked Katie to Catharine, who just nodded, otherwise she would continue with her heavy weeping.
Karen took the empty cups into the kitchen, and proceeded to fill up the dishwasher. She wiped some of the crumbs off the counter, anything to keep her busy. She felt her niece's pain, and wished there was something she could do, but there was nothing she could do right now. Just continue to love her. She decided to go and check on Cynthia and see how she was faring. She found that Cynthia was being held by some of the older female cousins, who loved to hold and play with their "doll", which Karen kind of found amusing. Cynthia turned to look at her mother, and she began to wave her arms, and laugh as only a baby can. She took Cynthia in her arms, and went to feed her in her room.
