A dental appointment
The keys to the surgery are always at the bottom of my bag and on a dark winter’s morning I’m fumbling for them with my gloves stuffed in my mouth. I can’t wait till the kettle’s boiled and I can settle down to the fashion pages of Tantalise magazine over a steamy coffee. Bloody phone barks at me while I’m opening the milk carton and my hair’s not fixed how I like it – a hairclip drops into the sugar bag. People with toothache phone you first thing in the morning before you’ve had a chance to get your coat off.
The only trouble with working in a dental surgery is not being able to have a cigarette while you’re working – patients get a bit uptight about cleanliness and standards so Derek and I have to nip out the back when there’s break in the appointments and light up together. Away from the nauseous surgical smell and metallic whiteness we inhale earthier pleasures.
“How d’you fancy working late tonight Charlene”, says Derek as his arm creeps round my waist and he bites my neck, a taste of things to come.
“I’ll think about it”, I say and return to the surgery where a few mums and their off spring have gathered for their check-ups. I know we should be setting up for an extraction on a very nervous patient by now and I still haven’t had a chance to flip through the magazine. I snatch a moment and stand by the mirror lifting my hair up with both hands imagining myself a shade blonder and Derek comes up and stands close behind me. He’s like a dog waiting for a biscuit.
The phone beckons and Gina says she’ll be in late as she’s got a headache which means that Zak turned up on the doorstep last night and this morning they are both too drunk to go to work.
A nervous Mrs Miller is shuffling her feet in the waiting room and loosening her collar. Gina always takes pride in soothing her but I can’t really be bothered. The way I see it, if going somewhere makes you nervous then you shouldn’t go; Gina says that this is illogical but I disagree. Anyway I do my best with the patient and tell her a bit of gossip I’ve just heard and she does chuckle for a moment. We move on to hairspray and hairdressers and she forgets where she is temporarily. She doesn’t seem to know any of the rock stars I mention so I ask her about her favourite film star and she is quick to tell me about Gregory Peck and all the wonderful things about him; and how she went to see some of his films with Bernard, a tall dark exciting man with a reputation in the village – blushes at the memory. We giggle and I tell her things haven’t changed a bit. Derek is reading the patient notes and makes a point of looking at me with a disapproving face, but he doesn’t appreciate the fact the patient’s arms and legs are not as tense as they were a few minutes ago and the extraction and the mess will be easier for all of us.
A dull tray of fearful instruments moves round, the overhead light switches on and the dentist snaps his gloves while smiling at his victim. The eagle swoops.
I like Gina, she’s a good mate, but she’s no control with the men in her life. They leave and turn up and she always welcomes them even though their single purpose is to take. Derek and I are different, we are a Monday to Friday relationship and I know he belongs to someone else on the weekends. I have no desire to weed his garden, have his kids or, least of all cook for him.
We work well together and have some real fun. This is the first job I’ve had since I left the institution and I really don’t know anything else. I get on well with the patients and I never have to do anything that I don’t want to do. Last Thursday Derek and I were kissing in the drugs’ cupboard when we had a cancellation – the phone was ringing off the hook and we were enjoying ourselves so much that we just let it ring, I think we could have stayed there all afternoon if it wasn’t for the damn patients. I was very impressed with the way that Derek was able to ignore the phone just like I did.
Derek’s wife usually comes in on a Wednesday to check our drug supplies and to inspect that the office has been cleaned properly. She also brings the wages in at the end of the month and stops for a little chat just to show us that she’s really in charge. She parks the BMW right outside the surgery, blocking the traffic and always wears a suit with shoes and handbag to match. She even once gave Gina and me a talk on the merits of Italian leather and we just burst out laughing when she left. Derek is always different with me on Wednesdays and usually has me tidying up the magazines in reception or smartening up the dental records where he’s forgotten to fill in the paperwork. He’s very sloppy with paperwork and his work in general but folks always need their teeth fixing so we are not short of business. Every Wednesday morning Derek says,
“Don’t forget girls, the boss is coming in today”. Gina and I never reply, we don’t need to be reminded.
However, today is Tuesday not Wednesday and Gina staying at home today means that Derek will have an appetite at lunchtime. The last patient leaves at 1.15 and he locks the door of the surgery, something we would not dare on a Wednesday. He walks slowly towards me grabbing my hand and leads me out the back.
“I’ve got a present for you Charlene, something I know you’ll like”, he starts huffing and puffing as his hot hands offer me a package that’s been wrapped in department store neatness. I am intrigued now as I know his presents are always carefully chosen. Making the most of the moment, he sits me on his lap and strokes up and down my leg while I unwrap a voluptuous red and purple silk scarf. Its softness and colour are enchanting, far lovelier than anything I would ever buy for myself and I feel it is a real token of our love – I whirl it round in the air to catch the riot of colour as it spins. Derek looks on smiling at my simple joy.
“Thank you”, is all I can think to say as I give him the kind of kiss that this scarf deserves.
A key is in the door, a shoe on the carpet and an irritated voice calls out “Hullo, any one working today”.
It’s Derek’s wife and it’s only Tuesday. Panic sets in as we have five seconds to straighten ourselves up, cool down and think of some kind of explanation.
Derek switches on the radio and kettle, picks up a newspaper and gives it a good shake, carrying it out with both hands holding the pages as wide open as possible, just as if he’s been disturbed while reading a very serious article.
“Hullo darling, what a lovely surprise to see you here”, he gushes.
I rearrange my hair and skirt while stuffing the scarf in the fridge. I come out too,
“Hullo Mrs Gardner, how are you?” is all I can think to say. She does not even look at me but asks why the door was locked while he was here accompanied. He blunders on while his cheeks seem to grow redder and the newspaper looks more of an excuse. She asks him what he is reading about and he mumbles something about drought and irrigation. It’s the worst thing he could say, he possesses nothing even remotely resembling a social conscience.
“I’ve bought the wages a little early this month as I’m going to the spa tomorrow with Vanessa and I’m clearing the desk today. See you for dinner at 7, she commanded, denying him the opportunity of working late. She left, her shoes angry with the carpet.
I retrieve the scarf from the fridge which is now stained with milk and I open the salary slip telling me that I am to be made redundant immediately. There is to be no question of unfair dismissal and no request for any reference. I can see Derek rubbing his eyes preparing to face the music later on. I do wish Gina had come in today.
Karin Bane
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