Case Study # 1: Crossword Puzzles.

Case Study: Maria and crossword puzzles.
Date: November 28, 2007
Location: Myles Standish Hall

Description: Maria woke up from a brief evening nap and walked into Noelle's room to ask if she wanted to go to Late Night to get a drink. She became distracted and soon forgot about her urge to go to Late Night. Maria picked up a Star magazine from Noelle's dresser and flipped through the pages, eventually stumbling upon the crossword puzzle section. She began filling out one of the crossword puzzles but tired of it soon and flipped to what looked like the more rigorous crossword puzzle. She started writing in the answers and quickly became obsessed the more words she wrote. She asked Noelle for help on several occasions and the two began manically searching for answers to the crossword. One hour later, they gave the crossword to Christina because they were stumped. Christina filled out several answers correctly. Over the course of the evening, Maria turned into a beast-like being. Resembling Dr. Jeckyll, a bipolar self new to both herself and her roommates surfaced. Resembling also the Hulk, Maria grew angry when people did not contribute adequately to the puzzle. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the black ink pen and the hints to the words smeared on the paper because she rubbed over them so hard, hoping the correct answer would simply appear. Maria threw the crossword at Jess as soon as she entered the room hoping Jess had something to contribute. When Jess was of little to no help, Maria tore the magazine from Jess' hands and lowered her face two inches from the puzzle in a futile attempt to determine the remaining words. Dizzy and angry, Maria threw down the unfinished crossword puzzle, stood on Noelle's bed, pounded her chest and leaped off the bed kicking Noelle in the face. As Noelle fell to the floor, Maria punched Jess in the stomach leaving her crippled over the bed. Maria stalked off to her cave where she sat in darkness pondering the existence of any purpose in her life now that she proved a complete and utter failure.

Conclusion: Maria is severely disturbed and obsessive. She should be institutionalized immediately. A safe environment with padded walls and no crossword puzzles is essential. Her second personality should be named and avoided at all costs. Do not play crossword puzzles with her unless you are extremely gifted with words.