A Little Attention

 

A Little Attention

“Come to order, people,” said the formerly suicidal group leader, “Who would like to start us off?”

Jenny stood and said “I’m Jenny, and I was suicidal.  I heard the news about the girl who killed herself by taking a whole bottle of sleeping pills.  They held a candlelight vigil outside her house with flowers, crosses, and photos.  I’d never had that kind of attention myself, so I copied her.  But instead of sleeping pills I accidentally took laxatives.  I got the wrong kind of attention.  I was mocked and ridiculed.  I learned my lesson the hard way.  I’ll never do it again.  All I wanted was a little attention.”

The leader said “Thank you Jenny. Who would like to share next?”

            Tommy raised his hand.  “I’m Tommy and I was suicidal.”

“Hi, Tommy.”

“I saw a report on TV about a guy who was bullied online, so he shot himself in the head.  His school named an anti-bullying campaign named after him. Hundreds of people came to his memorial.  I wanted that kind of attention too, so I got a gun, but I’d never used a gun before, so I accidentally shot myself in the foot.  In the emergency room the police showed up and cuffed me to my gurney.  I was charged with reckless endangerment and possession of an unregistered firearm.  Some people laughed at me, others avoided me.  I didn’t want this.  All I wanted was a little attention.”

The group leader said “Thank you, Tommy.  Sara, you’re next.”

Sara said “I saw a story about a woman who got so depressed that she jumped off the roof of her apartment building.  Everyone in town attended her funeral.  I was depressed too, and wanted that kind of attention, so I jumped off the roof of my apartment building.  It only broke my ankles because I live in a one-story building.  Instead of sympathy, I was mocked and ridiculed for botching my own suicide.  That’s not what I wanted.  All I wanted was a little attention.” 

The group leader said “We have time for one more.  How about you, the new guy.”

               The newbie rose and said “Hi, I’m Erich.  My mother died giving birth and my father died in a bar fight.   I was in and out of foster care, beaten and abused.”

The leader said, “So Erich, how did you attempt suicide?”

“I didn’t.  I would never kill myself.  I just came her to get a little attention.”