Vandersteen Final

This conversation is between Linda from "Death of a Salesman" and George from "Of Mice and Men". They have met at a psychiatrists office for help with the loss of a loved one.

Shrink: So we are all here today to make peace with what has happened in our lives. If you have come today, then you have experienced a very traumatic death in your past and are having a hard time coping with that death. We are going to start by going around the group and talking about our relationships with those we have lost. Lets start with George.

George: Hey, I'm George....I don't really know how to start.....umm, well I was best friends with a guy named Lennie. I've known him ever since Aunt Clara took him in and at first I couldn't stand him. Ya see there was something that never really worked in Lennie's head so he was always doing the wrong thing and getting in trouble. He followed me around like a lost puppy and I swear he would do anything I told him to do. One day I told him to jump into a river and he almost drowned. After that we kinda just stayed side by side. I tried my best to keep him out of trouble but it was like it always followed him around. He was a pretty good guy its just people never took the time to understand him.

Shrink: Great story George, it seemed like the two of you had a very special friendship. Now Linda, lets discuss your relationship with Willy.

Linda: Well hello everyone. My name is Linda Loman. I'm a homemaker and have two sons, Biff and Happy. My husbands name was Willy and we had been married for 47 years. I loved that man more then anything in the world. I remember when we first met, I just knew he was the one. The way he smiled just made me go weak in the knees and the passion he had for life was so incredible. He seemed like he was really going places and was determined to make a perfect life for us. He got a job as a traveling businessman that made enough for us to get by. It would appear that we would live a wonderful life.

Shrink: Very good Linda. Now George lets get into more of the story. What happened to Lennie.

George: Um... as you know Lennie was a little different and his issues kept getting him into trouble. We would travel around different farms to work and something would always happen causing us to hide and run away. Over time I would get so mad and him for being so stupid but I knew he just couldn't help it. He also had some kind of obsession with petting soft things such as mice and dogs. He kept killing them though so I tried to get him to stop. At one work camp in Weed he tried to pet a woman's dress causing her to cry rape and us to run away. This last time was worse then anything he had done before. One day he was in the barn just petting the puppies when the trap of Curley came in. He told her how much he loved to pet soft things and she told him how soft her hair was. I wasn't there to stop him and he just got so scared and confused that he broke the woman's neck. I won't ever forgive myself for not being there to stop him and protect him.

Shrink: Well George, you need to understand that there was nothing you could have done to prevent it from happening. It was in Lennie's nature and that is just something you can't stop. Lennie was very troubled and couldn't lead a normal life. Don't punish yourself for his mistake.

George: But it was my job to protect him! Aunt Clara left him to me and I didn't keep him safe as she had asked. We planned on finding a house together and living off the land. We were going to have a big house, just the two of us, and lots of crops and animals around. Lennie just loved the thought of having his own rabbits to play with. After he broke the woman's neck there was no chance of him getting away. I had to end it.

Shrink: Tell us what happened to Lennie, George.

George: I don't think I can ever forgive myself...I loved that guy and I didn't have any more options. We would have both ended up dead if I hadn't done it....I shot him....I just shot my best friend. He didn't deserve this! How can people be so ignorant. People don't spend the time to just get to know someone no matter if they are a little different then everyone else. I know I had to do it, I couldn't let him go through all of that.

Linda: How could you do that? To someone you said you loved and cared for. How could you just give up on him? I would never give up, no matter what!

Shrink: Now Linda, we are not here to pass judgment. You weren't in George's shoes. We should be talking about your own struggles.

Linda: I certainly have had my fair share of them. Everything I had ever hoped for was never reached. I did everything to have a loving, happy family but it didn't turn out how I thought. My husband Willy gave up on his life but I refused to give up on him or my boys. I don't know what I could have done differently to change my life. I cooked, I cleaned, and I supported my husband in everything he did. I even put up with all his crazy spells in the end when he was slowly loosing his mind. I wish I could have stopped him, but it was too late. He took his own life and I still will never be able to forgive myself.

Shrink: Linda, the more you beat yourself up for what happened the more unhappy you will be. You did all you could, it was Willy who made those decisions that led him down the wrong path not you. I understand how hard it is on you but it is time to let go.

George: Don't you think he is better off?

Linda: Excuse me?

George: Well from what I have heard he seems like the type of guy that is never happy with what he has and is always looking for something better. I don't think he would have ever really been happy. You did say he was going crazy so don't you think his death has put him at peace?

Linda: Wow, I've never heard it like that before. I still don't know if I can let it go, I loved him so much.

Shrink: That is why we are all here Linda. To work on letting go of the past and moving toward the future.

Linda: I guess your right, I'm ready to work on it.

George: You can count me in too, I'm ready.

Shrink: Alright well lets get started....