Page 59 of The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar
I tell her everything is normal, and she sighs, writing something down in her notepad.
“Have you heard of rapid cycling, Cesar?”
“No,” I answer shortly.
“It’s when you cycle between manic and depressive episodes more quickly than usual. I think that’s what you’re going through currently.”
Before she finishes her sentence, the second hand on the clock ticks to the fifty-minute mark, and I stand up without responding. And yes, I’ve been watching the clock the whole session so I don’t have to go a second over. I throw my backpack over my shoulder and turn to the door.
“You’re welcome to stay for group,” she offers.
“I’m good.”
“Before you leave, have you filled your new prescription yet? I want to make sure we monitor your reaction carefully so we can make sure to get you on the right path as soon as possible,” she says, but I’m already walking out.
“Yeah, we filled it,” I say as I leave. We picked up the new meds the day after she prescribed them, but I haven’t taken anything. My meds weren’t helping me before, and they’re not going to help me now.
After I finish my homework and chores for the night, I’m about to go to bed when the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it,” I say as I walk over to open it.
“I’m back!” Moni sings, bowing as soon as the door opens. And she sounds... happy about it?
“I thought you moved back to LA or something,” I say, since she was only supposed to be gone for the weekend.
“I almost did, but then my dad figured out what a Tampot is.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. Then she offers me a quick high five before rushing toward Abuela. She pulls a tub of brownies out of her bag and hands them over. “For you, Abue. Unfortunately, they don’t have my special ingredient. You can blame my dad for that.”
“Mija, you’re going to give your father a heart attack. It’s time to get your act together,” Abuela scolds, but she looks like she’s trying to hold back a smile.
Moni seems fully aware of Abuela’s lack of anger, too. She doesn’t bother hiding her own smile, and she’s practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“You’re lucky Cesar already finished all the chores for today. Tomorrow, we’ll put you back to work,” Abuela says sternly, and Moni gives her a military salute.
The bell rings again, and Abuela looks at both of us suspiciously. “You know you have to ask before inviting anyone over, right?”
“Wasn’t me,” I say, and Moni shrugs innocently.
Since I’m still right by the door, I go ahead and open it.
“It’s good to see you, mijo,” Doña Violeta says.
I’m about to shut the door in her face when Abuela meets me there. She just stares at Doña Violeta without saying anything.
“I got your voicemail....” Doña Violeta is the first to talk.
“You invited her?” My head snaps in my grandma’s direction. Iwon’t lie, I’m a little offended. Doña Violeta tricked me into getting in her car before dumping me off here, at a house I’d never been before with a grandma I hardly knew. And now Abuela’s just inviting her back like it’s fine?
“I... didn’t think you would come... ,” Abuela finally says.
“Well, here I am.” Doña Violeta shifts her weight like she’s not sure if she’ll be let inside. “And I think you’re right, Chela. We should talk.”
I almost gag at the nickname she gives my grandma. I figured they knew each other from before, but for how long? Is Doña Violeta one of the people Abuela said she’d try to make amends with? Whatever. It’s none of my business, and even if it was, I wouldn’t care.
“Talk as much as you want, but I’m going to bed,” I say as I turn around and go straight to the room, where Moni’s already lying belly down on the bottom bunk.
“Who was that lady?” she asks, propping herself up by her elbows.
“Basically, my mom’s replacement for Abuela. She practically raised me and Yami.”
