Dinosaurs were so last season, or at least it seemed that way. Wendy had hit up two toy stores without finding any, before finally landing at the dollar store. Within seconds she’d cleared out their inventory: two velociraptors, an improbably upright T-rex and something that might have been a triceratops. It would have to do. After that, she headed to the dollar store in West Dundee and then the one in Carpentersville.
She’d been at this for six weeks now. Not the dinosaurs—the appointments. Six appointments, and the boy had yet to even make eye contact. It was the toughest case she’d had. And she was supposed to be the expert.
When his appointment time came, she took a deep breath and opened the door. Her heart pounded as his mother led the boy in, pulled his chair out and set him before the play table. By now, the mother’s expression had gone from hope to resignation. As the door closed behind her, Wendy approached the boy. He sat, as always, with a vacant stare, the dirty rubber dinosaur clutched in one hand. Wendy dumped her new purchases on the table. “Today, let’s try something different.”
And for the first time, the boy looked up.
—
This has been an edition of the Sunday Photo Fiction prompt. To read more flash fiction inspired by the prompt, or to submit your own, click the blue froggy button:
k. Rawson 
This is so great. Highly cinematic, but with clues to Wendy’s inner life. Thinking that a toy is “so last season” makes me think Wendy decompresses by watching Project Runway. Nice job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol, Project Runway. You know her so well.
LikeLike
Day-um. What a great telling, as always. I feel for all of them.
Enraptured!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Finally a breakthrough 🙂 Excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome story, a great break through. I really hope all those dinosaurs the lady bought helps this little guy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Being an expert do not give all the answers, but this story will do for me.😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a creative take on the prompt and a creative method for Wendy to use with her patient. I’m not sure what it is about the exotic nature of dinosaurs, but kids seem to love them. Nice story, Karen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this – I felt the desperation at the beginning (been there).
LikeLiked by 1 person
How positive. She’s really dedicated to go to all that trouble.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think she is! Thanks for reading.
LikeLike