The Strange Therapy of Dr. Luther Knight (standard:horror, 5485 words)
Author: TJC	Added: Feb 20 2005	Views/Reads: 4092/2739	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A young couple with marital woes undergoes a special theapy session with a mysterious and reclusive doctor. What happens is far more than they ever imagined.

THE STRANGE THERAPY OF DR. LUTHER KNIGHT 

The driveway was long, curving, sheltered by towering trees and hugged
by perfectly trimmed lawns.  Springing up out of the mountain side 
estate was the Knight Mansion.  It was white, trimmed with teal,  and 
dominated by four magnificent columns.  I wondered if this is how the 
Parthenon once appeared to people in ancient Greece.  Reaching over to 
my wife, I patted her leg, but she didn't seem at all interested.  
After parking in front of the foyer, as I had been instructed, we got 
out of the Lexus and gazed at the spectacular view.  The Hollywood 
hills sprawled below dotted by other palaces before giving way to the 
tiny spec that was Los Angeles. 

“Isn't it gorgeous, Honey?”  I put my arm around Cora.  She wore her
sleeveless orange blouse and white Capric pants.  Her caramel skin and 
athletic body always excited me.  Her face had an annoyed expression 
but was still angelic surrounded by flowing brown hair. 

She sighed.  “Yeah, but this will be a waste of time.”  She slipped out
my arm. 

Cora was miserable.  Nothing seemed to improve her outlook.  I bought
her anything her heart desired, took her on trips, and treated her like 
the queen of my desires, which in fact she was.  Desperate to save my 
marriage, I enlisted the help of a counselor named Cheryl Penn.  The 
sessions went nowhere.  It was Penn who suggested we try what she 
called “overnight therapy” with her friend Dr. Luther Knight.  The 
suggestion floored me.  Luther Knight was a reclusive legend in the 
self-help and psychoanalysis fields.  His name was every bit as famous 
as Dr. Joyce Brothers and Dr. Phil, but few could say they had ever 
seen him.  For forty years his books had sold copies in the millions.  
It was an offer I couldn't refuse.  Despite my wife's objections, I 
agreed to have the session set up. 

“Hello, you two,” a voice called.  It was Cheryl.  She was coming out of
a white gazebo along the east lawn.  A shabbily dressed young woman 
with dirty red hair was with her.  The young woman carried an equally 
squalid infant in her arms.  After opening a side door, the woman and 
child disappeared. 

“Who the hell was that?” Cora asked.   “She and that kid could use a
bath.” 

“Luther likes to help out the homeless on occasion,” Cheryl replied. 
“She'll be in the guest room in the lower part of the house.”  Heavyset 
with blonde hair, Cheryl wore the plain blue business suit she always 
seemed to have on.  “Dinner should be on the table. Follow me.” 

With our small over night bags, Cora and I followed Cheryl up the steps
past the columns and through the massive front door.  Inside were walls 
of oak and a floor of marble. 

“Leave your bags here,” Cheryl said.  “They'll be taken up to your
room.”   She opened a double door which led into a dining room.  
Carpeted in red, it was dominated by a long table, lavishly spread with 
meats, pastas, fish, and breads over a white silk cloth.  There were 
several bottles of wine, both red and white.  The table was long, and 
the big spread was enough to accommodate an army. It seemed strange 
that there were only three chairs, one at the head and two others on 
each side of the table several feet down. 

“Luther wasn't sure what to serve, so he went all out,” Cheryl said. 
“Please go ahead and eat, he will take it as an insult if you don't eat 
and eat hearty.  He's funny that way.” 

“Where is he?” I asked. 

“He will be here later in the evening.  Good luck you two.”  Cheryl
quickly stepped out and shut the door behind her.  It seemed to me she 
was in a hurry to leave. 

Cora wasted no time as she sat down and began loading up a plate with
salmon and salad.   	“Open some wine, Sam,” she told me.  “At least 
we'll eat good on this silly slumber party.” 



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