A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 5
Do you follow The Onion? It’s not only some of the best and funniest writing around, there are also some good ideas for movies. Like this one: Hatred of marriage counselor brings couple together:
TEMPE, AZ — Area couple Tom and Becky Witthauser credited the successful resolution of their ongoing marital conflicts to their mutual hatred of their marriage counselor Monday, describing him as the “jag-off whose prissy, ineffectual demeanor brought us closer than we’ve been in years.”
The Witthausers enjoy a newfound closeness, thanks to their hatred of therapist Roger Verbicki.
The Witthausers, married eight years, began visiting Dr. Roger Verbicki, 42, a psychologist and accredited couples counselor, in May after months of strife threatened to end their union. Holding hands and gazing lovingly at each other, they described their first fateful meeting with “the insufferable” Verbicki.
“At the time, we could barely make eye contact,” Tom said. “But about halfway through the first session, we started casting these sideways glances, because we just hated this guy. We could both feel it.”
“After our first session, I told Becky, ‘That guy is so unlikeable, like the way he asked us to call him Dr. Roger,’” Tom said.
“And I said, I hated him too!” Becky said, finishing Tom’s sentence. “He was such a putz, like he’s Dr. Phil or something. Our buddy. Gonna help us through this. What a loser.”
The Witthausers said they can barely maintain their composure during their weekly meetings, due to Verbicki’s various mannerisms and affectations. His nasal voice, sallow complexion, stained teeth, elbow-patched corduroy blazers, and affinity for herbal tea are among the traits cited by the Witthausers. Singled out for particular ridicule was Verbicki’s tendency to rest his face against his thumb and index finger, and scratch his lower lip.
“I just want to beat the guy up,” Tom said.