Ninth Session

Richard and Mrs K. met on the road near the house. Unexpectedly Mrs K. had been unable to get the key on her way, and she and Richard went back to fetch it, Richard was obviously disturbed

and worried about this, though he did not say so. He commented, however, on the noise the crows were making, remarking that they ‘sounded frightened’. He also asked if Mrs K. would make up the time lost in going to fetch the key.

Mrs K. interpreted1 that the crows stood for himself and that he felt frightened, not only because he had lost some time, which Mrs K. was willing to make up, but also because he no longer felt sure that he would always find the playroom and Mrs K. ready for him.

Richard said that he had an ‘important question’ which he was going to put to Mrs K. when they were back in the playroom. But then he asked it straightaway: could she help him not to have dreams?

Mrs K. asked him why he did not want to have dreams, and why he did not want to tell her this now.

Richard explained that his dreams were always frightening or unpleasant. He also said that he was afraid of being overheard, particularly by any children they might meet. All the time he had been speaking in whispers, although there was hardly anyone on the road.…

Back in the playroom Richard mentioned some dreams. One had to do with being given ether by the Queen in Alice in Wonderland; another with a German troop-carrier which came down quite close to him; this dream reminded him of something which he had dreamt a long time ago. A car, looking ‘old, black, and deserted’, with lots of numberplates, came towards him and stopped at his feet. (While talking about the dreams he was turning the electric fire on and off.)

Mrs K. interpreted that the fire looked black when it was turned off and then might appear dead to him. In the dream the old, black, and deserted car seemed dead too.

Richard pointed out that when the fire was turned on, something red moved in it. (He was referring to a vibra