ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
I'm a 16-going-on-17 year old Indian (from India) girl. I love writing and reading. My favourite books include the Harry Potter seires, Agatha Christie mysteries, etc... I hope you enjoy my work! [July 2003]
A Trip To The Dentists' Mulan
Many people may think my fear of the dentist is quite juvenile and maybe you're one of them. But I don't think so. When you're at the dentist's, you're at his mercy, the dentist's I mean.
Right now, I'm seated in the waiting room, pretending to read The Daily Mail. There are three other people in the room with me: a stern looking old lady, who is knitting, and a mother and her son. The little blonde boy is surprisingly seated quietly and the mother is reading a fashion magazine.
None of them look nervous and so I've decided to act cool. But my nerves are all haywire. I glance at the lady, who's seated inside a reception box. She's busy chewing pink gum and painting her fingernails. Very calm and collected...well, naturally! She doesn't have to fill up her teeth with whatever it is dentists fill teeth with!
I turn the newspaper the other way around; I just realize that I've been reading it the wrong way. Thankfully none of the others have noticed.
I look at the boy once more. He seems too calm, too quiet. I'm beginning to suspect that the mother froze him or scared him out of his wits. Maybe the mother is the runaway criminal that news lady was talking about last night on Channel 3. No, wait...she was talking about a male criminal.
Anyway, looking at the boy, has stirred in me memories of how the fear of the dentist evolved.
It began when I was a young, carefree boy. Thin, scrawny, full of life, yes, that was me. But I was also full of sweets...well, at least my mouth was. And so, one fine day, I had a terrible toothache. My mother suspected a cavity and scolded me for having consumed too many sugary sweets. She dragged me to the dentist's, which was, unfortunately, quite near our home. The long wait I'm going through now, reminds me of the long wait I endured then. I still remember an old man, who was seated across from me in that waiting room. He was staring at me and I felt very uncomfortable.
When it was my turn to get into the office, I was only too glad. The dentist turned out to be a pretty young lady and that made me feel happy. She spoke sweetly and asked me to open my mouth. I remember staring at her wide-eyed; her beautiful crystal-blue eyes shining brightly at me, her silky red hair cascading on her shoulders, her perfect nose, so elegant and her cherry-red lips. Her smile was heavenly and I felt as though I were in a trance. Then suddenly, pain shot through me, the source being in my mouth. I realized that while I adored her picture perfect face, she drew a needle and stabbed my gums with it! And then, I recall my gums becoming numb and cold. It was a funny feeling. My jaw was forcefully kept open as saliva filled up inside and began pouring out when it reached the brim. I closed my eyes as she put things in my mouth and when I opened them, later, I realised that the operation had ended. The pretty dentist smiled at me but I didn't return it to her for two reasons.
One, because she betrayed me and two, because I couldn't feel my poor gums!
Now, as I recall that incident, I realise what a fool I must've looked, seated on the chair with my mouth wide open and drooling.
I awaken from my train of thought when the receptionist calls out to me.
'Mr. Jamison! You're next!'
I get up and stand for a while 'til I get the feeling in my legs. I glance at the little boy and see that he's watching me anxiously. I walk slowly towards the door. The walk seems long but in reality it must take only a minute. I knock limply on the door and open it.
The familiar setting of the office increases my fear. But I notice there are a few changes in technology. The dentist, a young man with a bright face, gestures for me to sit on the dreaded chair.
I comply reluctantly.
'Mr. Jamison, I see you need a filling,' he says consulting a paper. His voice sounds very soothing. But past experience has taught me to be on guard, no matter what. I nod my head.
‘Right. Could you please rest your head here, and open your mouth?’ he says kindly as he places my head on a soft extension of the chair. He, then, places a small towel below my lower jaw. He picks up an instrument and bends over me. I see his visage clearly now and it looks oddly familiar. I stare at his brilliant blue eyes and his young perfect face and I’m in deep thought as to who he might be. In any melodramatic movie, he could be my long lost son but I don’t have a son; just a lovely daughter. Suddenly I feel a sharp pain in my gums. At the same time, I am struck with inspiration that this lad may be the son of the lady dentist who betrayed me as a boy. I lose the sense of feeling in my mouth and as I look into his innocent face, I think betrayal runs in the family!
After the operation, I find it difficult to speak. Before I leave, I glance at the wall and spot a photo-frame hung on the wall. A beautiful but aged lady stares back at me and I remember, once again, the face of the first dentist I ever met.
I try to snort. Unsuccessful in my attempt, I leave.
READER'S REVIEWS (6) DISCLAIMER: STORYMANIA DOES NOT PROVIDE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWS. ALL REVIEWS ARE PROVIDED BY NON-ASSOCIATED VISITORS, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY THEY CALL THEMSELVES.
"powerful story...hope its fiction. I wouldnt catagorize it as a comedy though...more a tragedy :(" -- michelle.
"Well, it is fiction. I meant it to be comedy...didn't realise it could be sad...:(" -- Mulan.
"I didn't think this was sad, some parts were funny. I don't think a dentist can really betray you." -- Steven.
"I don't mean to offend any one! Dentists, I mean. I was quite bored and thought of writing something funny...the truth of the matter is, I have never ever been to the Dentists'" -- Mulan.
"actually when i was little a dentist slapped me on the leg for crying when it hurt...i kid u not! my mom just about went nuts lol...but now like 25 years later I still remember it...but my dentist is great so it didnt hurt me forever :)" -- michelle.
"I meant, my dentist NOW, is great...not the same one i had then lol" -- michelle.
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