The doctor eventually made his way over to my chair, and after a final check, and a quick study of my pictures, he looked down at me and said, “You are ‘good to go’.” I felt a nervous excitement in my stomach when the technician asked me if I was ready! I answered, “I am past ready”,
I awoke at my usual time, knowing that this day would be my final visit after a very long haul. I anxiously showered, dressed, primped, and prepared myself for the 9:50 am appointment. Two years, eight months…and well, to be honest, I didn’t count the exact days since that first meeting. I had spent many visits throughout the years at this very office, but all of that would soon be a distant memory. It all began with camera shots; pictures from every possible angle. I was asked to smile; tilt my head this way; look towards the wall, all in hopes of attaining that perfect look.
One of the many winter storms had just passed and the morning radio DJ was warning of black ice conditions on the roads. There weren’t any school cancellations or business closures, so I was quite confident that I would be expected at my appointment. I arrived at the office, checked-in with the usual touch tone screen, entered my last name, and found an empty seat in the waiting room. Looking around the room at the diverse group of people waiting for their turn, I wondered how long some of them had been coming to this same office. I smiled at one woman who was across from me, sipping on her morning coffee. She kept checking her cell phone and tapping her foot anxiously, looking a bit hurried to be somewhere other than here. She was with her young daughter, a pretty girl with tousled blonde hair and it was obvious she had been awakened from a warm, sound slumber. She continually rubbed her eyes, yawning and leaning her head on her mother’s shoulder. It was clearly evident that she was not in her ‘happy place’. I glanced at them occasionally as I leafed through the magazines on the table. I eventually found a fashion magazine of interest and began turning through the endless pages of advertisements in search of a story with some substance.
I noticed another interesting family, father and son, sitting with their backs to the window. The teenage boy sat motionless looking down at his clean new basketball sneakers, his long streaked bangs covering his eyes. His father seemed restless in his chair, dressed in his fashionable pin-striped navy suit, all the while working furiously with his Blackberry. He certainly looked like he ‘pulled in the bucks’. I didn’t for one minute think that those expensive basketball sneakers were paid for with a paper route. He glanced up periodically, anxiously hoping that his son would be called next. It was always an interesting group of clients on each and every visit, this day being no different, but today was my day. It was most likely not evident to anyone in the room, just how excited I really was.
The technician finally appeared at the door entrance, looking at her chart and scanning the room. She eventually made eye contact with me, smiled brightly and called out my name. I quickly closed the magazine, gathered up my purse, coat and gloves and eagerly followed her to the awaiting chair. I set my purse on the floor beside me as she proceeded to get me ready.
She worked behind my chair on the computer, pulling up my file and then excusing herself to attend to something else. I rested my head back in the chair and watched the TV screen on the wall directly in front of me. The channel was set on a cartoon station, and I found myself laughing out loud. It dawned on me how cartoons have changed over the years, but the antics were still the same, but portrayed by new flashy characters. I glanced around to see if anyone else was laughing, not bothering to change channels, as I knew it would only be a matter of minutes before I would see the doctor. I chatted casually with the staff as they scurried from one work station to the next. I enjoyed talking with all of the technicians, only seeing them every few months, but they each had their own story to tell. I had come to know them all quite well over my two-year visits. On every visit, I could be assured of bright smiles and kind words, making me feel special.
The doctor eventually made his way over to my chair, and after a final check, and a quick study of my pictures, he looked down at me and said, “You are ‘good to go’.” I felt a nervous excitement in my stomach when the technician asked me if I was ready! I answered, “I am past ready”, which prompted a giggle from her. “Let’s do this.” I said. It was another 20 minutes before I was finally done, and yet again, she had worked her magic. The hard work was now over. I let out a sigh, a feeling of relief coming over me.
My visit ended, no sooner than all of the staff rounded the corner of the office, everyone grinning from ear to ear. My back was to the door, as they quickly surrounded my chair approaching me from behind and catching me off guard. I heard their voices singing that dreaded song; the same song which I been witness to a few months earlier. It had been sung to a young teenage boy, possibly 15 years old, who was obviously on his last visit and also showing signs of sheer humiliation. I could tell by his body language, he was mortified. If his school chums would have been here for the sing- song, my god, school as he once knew it, would never have been the same again.
I cringed at that familiar tune; those echoing words made me grimace, as the sound of the banging toy drum became my reality. I was quickly reduced to those familiar feelings of my awkward youth again. My mind flashed back to earlier years, those horrifying moments of utter embarrassment stood out all too clear in my mind. It was obvious that I was feeling like a ‘blushing pre-teen’ insecure and self-conscious, as I held my hands to my face. It was now my turn to be serenaded with the ‘song of congratulations’ for a job well done, as uncomfortable as it was. They stood directly in front of my chair, adorned in an array of brightly colored laai’s, party hats, party blowers, while banging on toy tambourines. I thought to myself, this is all fine and dandy for a youngster, but I guess in all fairness, and not to be left out of such festivities, this was also my ‘special day’.
The song was over in a matter of moments, as I glanced towards the smiling woman sitting in the work space next to me. She was watching and grinning, knowing that one day, she would be witness to this group of happy faces, but not for herself. I was handed the customary lime-green vinyl bag of goodies; caramels, chocolate bars, popcorn, loli-pops, smarties and of course, last but not least - bubble gum. I literally was, ‘a kid in a candy shop’. What more could one ask for…well, maybe all the treats, minus the serenade might be a good start, but I was a trouper.
The day ended with a final photo shoot with camera shots from various angles. I felt as if I was working the small office like a seasoned professional. “Turn your head this way please”, she asked. “Can you smile a bit more for the camera?” Sure, I had no problem striking my best pose. I had done all the hard work over two years; remembering my daily regiment, and meeting every appointment deadline that was required of me.
My new improved look was revealed. The pictures told the story from beginning to end. Finally though, as perplexing as it might be, this relationship that I so enjoyed had come to an end. The camera was inevitably put away, and it was time to leave. I had my bag of goodies in hand and I wondered if some people in the waiting room were thinking to themselves, ‘Is she the mother of a child here’? The curious looks made me laugh inside, but no, I was the brave soul grinning like a Cheshire cat, who took the plunge over 2 years ago. A final glance in the mirror; my bright shiny new reflection staring back at me. I studied my face for a few moments while they scurried around finalizing my chart. I put the mirror a bit closer, revealing a few fine lines around my mouth. I pursed my lips tight, then relaxing them, noticing my own imperfections from various angles.
I sat restless in my chair, ready to leave, when I thought back on that infamous quote by Mark Twain. “Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have once been.” I picked the mirror up again from my lap, took one more peek, realizing that I really loved my new look.
My braces were finally off.
At 54 years of age, it was my new smile that said it all!
After a long awaited weekend visitation caused by false allegations of sexual abuse, Glen got to see his children for the first time in over two months. He promised them that they would never be apart again and then they disappeared.
After a long awaited weekend visitation caused by false allegations of sexual abuse, Glen got to see his children for the first time in over two months. He promised them that they would never be apart again and then they disappeared.
At the young of age of seven, Jill's mother Eve takes her for regular sessions to a child psychologist for treatment of her anxiety, which only makes her behavior worse. When she reaches her teens, she starts drinking and then smoking marijuana with
