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Special mentions to Keith Norman, Barry Baldwin, Caro McShane and Mike Morrison. The winners, printed below, get £25 each, and Nancy Squire scoops the bonus fiver.
Deemed ‘at risk’ of harming herself and others, Mrs Macbeth is a service user from Scotland referred for crisis intervention. A preoccupation with power-gender concerns and prevailing national political hegemonies has impacted on her fearful husband, a Scottish Parliament executive. He replaced Mr Duncan King who died tragically in a horrific assault at the Macbeth home. Mr Macbeth now wanders heathland, communing with imaginary women and having socially embarrassing hallucinations about a deceased friend, Mr Banquo. Another client preoccupation focuses on a missing baby and breast-feeding anxieties though Scottish Records have no evidence of any birth. Post-natal depression and unresolved bereavement issues may account for OCD handwashing and distressing sleepwalking episodes. Former neighbour, Mr Macduff from Birnam Wood, has kindly agreed to attend an emergency Psychiatric Case Conference at the Macbeths’ home as lead facilitator in forging an appropriate dynamic intervention strategy for this troubled couple.
Nancy Squire
A classic phallocentric patriarch experiencing difficulties relating to a downshift in hierarchical placement exacerbated by poverties of perception in respect of reality and the usual rage-assuagement issues, Mr Lear and his two dutiful daughters (the third is estranged, having exhibited unacceptable levels of emotional constipation) formalised a care plan under which Lear would reside alternately in their households. Lear, unused to embracing change, brought a retinue with him as a bolster to self-esteem, failing to adequately explore or resolve its impact on family dynamics. The care plan having proved unsustainable by all parties, Mr Lear has become socially excluded. Though his rough-sleeper status on blasted heath may appear to be a call to action from our perspective, his daughters claim this is self-exclusion and hence to be respected as a lifestyle choice, a contention prompting my suggestion that we case-conference this family’s needs extensively.
Adrian Fry
Jessica S. (15) is precociously well-developed and strong-willed, as a result of being brought up by her father in a single-parent family. Mr S. is an immigrant who has suffered racially motivated attacks (he was spat on whilst waiting outside the local Rialto). Working in the financial sector, he has been too preoccupied with cashflow and legal issues to devote due time to his daughter. Evidence emerged that she was being ‘groomed’ by an older man called Lorenzo, an associate of the well-known dealer from Little Venice, ‘Oh-Oh’ Antonio. Both men have known mob links. Lorenzo had already persuaded Jessica to indulge in cross-dressing, and to steal money from her father; but while she was poised to leave with him, Social Services intervened. She has been taken into care, and will be fostered in a stable family unit elsewhere (a Mr and Mrs Othello).
Brian Murdoch
The child at the centre of this disturbing case is believed to be an orphan of Indian origin, smuggled illegally into the country by an adoptive couple. These have no fixed abode but follow an alternative lifestyle in a wood near Athens. Following the recent separation of these two, acrimonious disputes about the custody of the child seem to have divided their commune. Our investigations suggest that after the break-up, the adoptive mother abandoned the child to engage in a very public affair with a local man, described variously as a weaver and ‘a bit of an arse’. Members of the social services team venturing into the forest to take the child into social care have returned disoriented and oddly changed. Regrettably, one of them is facing suspension for grossly homophobic language. (He was heard referring to the adoptive father as ‘that great fairy’.)
George Simmers
The client presents with challenging personal identity issues resultant from marginal physical disability and a trans-species parentage. The father, absent from before birth, is unknown. The mother had only limited parenting skills. With no education at either primary or secondary level, client only achieved oral linguistic competence through non-professional personal tuition. He is now capable of a reasonable degree of self-expression, albeit often of a confused and belligerent nature. The one-to-one situation with his female tutor gave rise to an episode of sexual aggression revealing male-dominance attitudes which client has yet to confront. Psychiatric referral may be appropriate as there is also evidence of schizophrenic tendencies, most notably in his claim to hear unexplained voices. There are also indications that alcoholic dependence may become an issue. Going forward, there will be a requirement for continual close supervision and regular counselling.
W.J. Webster
Richard generally copes well with his physical disability on a day-to-day basis. However, he harbours resentment and this makes it difficult for him to sustain meaningful relationships. He tends to be confrontational, and overreacts when opposed or thwarted. Although comfortably housed, he is inclined to complain and regard others as obstacles, and is unwilling to take responsibility for is own situation. He does not get on well with his immediate family, especially his mother, and although we feel he has the potential for violent action we have decided that on balance he should be encouraged to participate in the rough and tumble of this diverse social setting. We feel arm’s-length supervision is sufficient now that he has accepted his lower status. He has benefited from working with children, and increased activities in this area will prevent his drowning in his own sorrows.
D.A. Prince
No. 2600: Animal Crackers
You are invited to supply a poem (maximum 16 lines) in which either the first line or last line is ‘Whenever you see a rhinoceros’. Entries to ‘Competition 2600’ by 11 June or email lucy@spectator.co.uk.
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