Prologue

He grabbed his leather bag and put on his suit jacket for the first day of his new professional life. The leather bag was a gift from his old mentor Dr. Paul, and he wanted to channel him as much as possible for his big first day as a psychologist in charge of supervision. He had learned almost everything he knew from the man, and he hoped he would be proud of his decision.

He walked into the office and saw his old friend from Piha, Natalie sitting at reception eating a jelly tip popsicle, an ice cream that was a New Zealand delicacy and one he had also learned to enjoy.

“A little early for ice cream isn’t it?” John asked with a smile.



“My Goodness doctor, you’ve been in charge for 5 minutes and you’re already making rules about ice cream? And let me tell you something my American doctor friend. It’s NEVER too early for ice cream.”

He was duly chastised.

He opened the door to his office and saw his new chair had been delivered. It was old and brown and leathery, and it was exactly like the one his old mentor had sat in the entire time he had known him. It was an homage of sorts, but also a reminder that others had paved the way for him to take this particular seat. He settled in and embraced his new role as a teacher and a mentor.

He had come a long way to be here.