The Analyst: Part III

Mother: I told Jack he’d be responsible to keep his own room clean. He didn’t straighten it up after Shabbos and when he came home at the end of the next week, his laundry was still on the floor. It was a shock for him…and for me.

Father: These skills will also make Jack a better business analyst.

Jack: This empathy thing is hard work. Every time someone tells me something, I’m busy thinking, is that a clue to how they’re feeling?

Jack rushes into his next session and throws himself down into the chair. There are two red patches high on each cheek.

“It didn’t work,” he says accusingly.

“Pardon?”

“I went out with this girl a couple times. I remembered you said I need to really get to know her. I brought along this getting-to-know-you type game, and now she dumps me because of it!”

“Wow. That’s awful.” After a moment I say, “I wonder what might have triggered that.”

“I was just asking her questions about her work experiences. Like if she gets along with her boss and if she left her previous job or got fired. I don’t know why she got so upset. Why couldn’t she just answer? She just clammed up and got all quiet until we went home!”