Then, Mary called her Psychiatric Case Manager appointed by the State. Judy often understood these huge problems and was able to help somehow.

“Judy, it’s Mary. Mr. McCracken is going to fire me because I can’t sell any papers.”

“How do you know?”

“He told me!” she answered in a nasty indignant tone. “Would I say he’s going fire me if he wasn’t? You think I’m just Crazy Mary. Just Crazy Mary, what does she know!” She fumbled with the phone cord, huffing and puffing her breaths.

“OK, Mary. But, you won’t lose your apartment. Or your benefits, you know.”

“I know. But why can’t I do it? Plus, I’m using the money...” she added in her childish tone, “for my extra things, like my greeting cards, and going to the Dunkin’ Donuts once a week...and extra Juicy Juice.” At the end she breathed fast with several involuntary mouth movements.

“I know. It’s nice to have that little extra money. What do you think is wrong?”

“Howda I know! Whadda I know? If I knew I’d fix it up all up all right!” Then she became quiet again. “I’ll fix it...get a gun, and I’d fix it.”

“Tell me everything?” Judy said at length, putting aside Mary’s threat.

Mary related the whole matter to Judy.