After months and months of therapy with all the small victories and multitudes of setbacks, Chainsaw’s newest therapist, Dr. Jolly West, decided to start doing word association as a meter to the degree of progress treatments have yielded.
“Mr. Chicken”, the Dr. shifted in his chair. “We need to do a simple test now and then, simply measuring your improvement. I will say a word or phrase and you tell me the first thing that pops into your mind”.
“Okay Doc!” Chainsaw spurted, “I’ll bite! Give me a shot!”. Chainsaw motioned with his hand, wiggling his fingers aligned in a ‘give it to me’ gesture.
“Ah, yes…. Mr. Chicken. Let us begin”…paused the Doctor. “Here we go”.
Chainsaw quickly answered. “There we went!” …
“No Mr. Chicken, I have not started. Now let us begin… What enters your mind when I say ‘Love’?”
“Chainsaw, a moment later blurted “Mrs. Chicken”.
“Good, Mr. Chicken… Now…’Sugar cookie”, the doctors’ eyes fixed on Chainsaw.
“Ah… Lunch!”… Chainsaw licked his lips.
The doctor scribbled a quick note. “Since we are in a food mode, here’s a statement, give me your response, ‘Ham and…?”
Chainsaw looked up thinking… “Cheese! I bet you thought I was going to say eggs! Right Doc?”
“Please, Mr. Chicken, Let us continue… Next phrase…’That’s how the pickle squirts!”
Chainsaw instantly froze, his eyes glazed, “Yes Major West, what is my mission?”
The doctor shuffled through his notes as Chainsaw remained motionless, “Oh DAMN, that’s your MK Ultra trigger phrase! What is the release phrase?” he continued to leaf through the notes.
Chainsaw interjected “I was not able to give a report about my last mission.”..still frozen in position.
The doctor stopped shuffling papers and looked at Chainsaw, “Was it successful?”. he probed.
“Yes Major. I was able to eliminate all of them. the objective was completed. Are there any new orders?” Chainsaw had still not moved, or even blinked this entire time.
“Oh there’s the release word!”, the doctor exclaimed. “Oh…ah…that’s good for now…” he prepared to get things out of MK Ultra mode and said, “Rhubarb sandwiches are tasty!” and fixed his eyes on Chainsaw.
Moments later, Chainsaw fluttered his eyes, smacked his beak a time or two then said “I thought you were gonna give me another word, Doc. Are we done?”
In a moment of repeated wonder the doctor watched as the training dissolved and Chainsaw returned to his typical self. “Yes, Mr. Chainsaw, see you next week.