Jill Callahan

The Woman with the Fork Jill Callahan

Whitney McBride is in big trouble. She doesn't know it yet, but she's fallen over an emotional edge and landed in the middle of a psychiatric hospital.


Most people would say Whitney's done for, but she's got a searing sense of humor and she loves a good fight. She gets some serious sleep for the first time in five nights, and writes a letter to a friend:


"The admitting nurse said her name was Martha. She seemed sympathetic, so I told her about everything-speed limits; safety pins; football helmets; sunscreens; tourniquets; fire alarms; air bags, and overdue fines."


Whitney negotiates her way around psychiatrists, nurses, therapists, aides, and fellow patients, and somehow she keeps her wits about her.
She tells her friend:

"I've been here for about a month now, but please don't let that scare you-everything is copacetic-I get three hots and a cot and a pile of good drugs every day. Besides, they serve a mean hot pastrami on rye with a kick-ass side of slaw."Even in the middle of total chaos, Whitney sees the good in everything. As she tells her friend:


"My husband brings me wonderful books all the time, which is a real blessing, since visitors often ask how I got here and, thanks to him, I've always got a good story in the palm of my hand."


So, stick with Whitney as she rides a psychiatric roller-coaster with laughter, tears, courage and love. Oh, and try not to worry about Whitney too much-she's got a damn good story, and she lives to tell about it.