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Chapter Two - Beginning The Solution
About 8 that night, the phone rang and it was Joyce. She said that what worked for Tom, will probably do the same for Joe. "Barbara is going to write you out what will look like two huge prescriptions and you must follow the directions to the letter. Just tell him they are vitamins or tranquilizers to help him deal with his reverse performance anxiety and I’m sure he’ll take them in a heartbeat. And Karen, you will see some changes in Joe, although not immediately. They may be very subtle at first, but you’ll both notice interesting personalities and other developments when they really take hold. I hope you are pleased with the results. He should become a very mellow fellow."
"OK Joyce, but you’re being awfully mysterious about this." "You know how I love a mystery, Karen. Besides, it will be more fun this way for both of you." "When can I get the scripts?" " The mystery is part of the fun of it .And I’ll get them for you and you’ll have them in a couple days. And, if you don’t enjoy Joe’s changes, just stop the pills." "I just want to mellow him out Joyce and make him a little more appreciative about girl stuff.". Just follow the directions and he will definitely acquire a better appreciation for your side of things." They said their goodbyes, and Karen was feeling like there may be some light at the end of this moody tunnel of Joe’s after all. She had read about , how sometimes a chemical imbalance can cause mood swings. And was really hoping that whatever Joyce came up with would cure Joe and make him easier to live with.
When Joe got home on Thursday, she had the prescriptions, 500 pills of one, and 200 of the other. She put them in the pantry with the vitamins so that he wouldn’t forget to take them. Karen told him that they were tranquilizers and that he has to take increased doses up to a point until they are both satisfied the desired effect has been reached. He was to start with one a day, then two, one morning and night and then three, one morning and two in the evening, then two both morning and evening, until he gets used to them and so that they will not cause a sudden upset to his system. Joe was so pleased that Karen had found something to help him. He readily agreed to the program taking one of each that evening. Karen told Joe not to expect too much right away. So Joe was not too disappointed. when the same old thing happened for the next several weeks.
However, by the end of the third week, Karen was finally beginning to enjoy some fun in the bedroom. And he seemed a little calmer as well. At six weeks, he was up to 3 pills a day and was mellowing out some, especially his attitude. with her, and all the ‘girl stuff,’ that slowed her down with the getting dressed, and the makeup and all. In fact, he had taken to just sitting there in the bedroom, watching her do her thing and wondered how he could ever go through all that trying to look pretty. But, at least, he now understood from watching her and was patient with her. Man, being a girl takes a lot of time, he thought. I wonder if I would ever have that much patience, much less talent? How weird! Why am I even asking myself that question?