Amber knows as soon as the door opens that the old man entering is in the wrong office. Spending time directing patients was just one of the unforeseen drawbacks of being part of a large medical complex.
Stacked on the corner of her desk are maps of the offices. As the old man approaches she reaches for a map.
She smiles up at him and asks, "How may I help you?" The smile is important. She learned many years ago that if you smile, you can tell people exactly where to go. And, if you smile broadly enough, you can even tell them what to take along with them when they go.
"Yes, I have a one-thirty appointment with the doctor."
Brightening her smile she asks him if he is sure that he has the right office. She pushes a map across the desk toward him and explains that it is a big complex. If he would tell her the name of the doctor he was visiting, she would show him how to get there.
"Is this Dr. Miller's office?"
"Yes, it is."
"If you would check your book, I am sure you find an appointment for Watson, Melvin Watson."
Still smiling she checks the book and is surprised to find a one-thirty for Mr. Melvin Watson. "Yes, yes, I do see your appointment." Her smile falters a little but she recovers and apologizes.
He senses her discomfort. "Miss, is there something wrong?"
"No, but..."
"But?"
Maintaining the smile is taking some effort. "Mr. Watson, I'm very sorry but we might not have made it clear when we scheduled your appointment but Dr. Miller is not a general urologist, he is a specialist. The only procedures he performs are vasectomies. If you would like, I can call down to Dr. Patel's office on the second floor and see if they can arrange to see you now."
"That won't be necessary. I would like to see Dr. Miller."
He watches confusion creep across her face. It's his turn to smile.
"Miss..." he searches for a name tag.
"Glenn, Amber Glenn."
"Miss Glenn, is something wrong?"
She has worked for Dr. Miller since high school and in those seven years she has learned what he likes and, more importantly, what he doesn't like. Dr. Miller is not going to like wasting his time seeing this old man who is obviously not going to be needing his services.
"No sir, there's nothing wrong." She does the only thing she can think of and hands Mr. Watson a clipboard. "Please fill out the front and back of the first sheet then read and sign the second sheet." As he turns toward the empty waiting room she grabs a pamphlet to hand to him. "Oh, and you will want to read this as it will explain the procedure."
Amber doesn't know what he might have been expecting and she hopes that when he reads the brochure he will realize his mistake and she can send him down to Dr. Patel.
He completes the form and she watches for the signs of recognition on his face as he reads the pamphlet.
As he hands back the completed forms he asks, "Will I need to be shaved for this procedure?"
With her best smile in place she asks, "Mr. Wilson, are you sure that this surgery is the right one for you?"
He doesn't hesitate, "Oh, yes. I'm too old for children."
"That's exactly what I mean. You are..." She runs her finger down his completed form, "eighty-two years old."
When he smiles there is a little glint in his eye. "And, Miss Glenn, I am healthy and active. And I am too old for more children."
"If you don't mind me asking, how many children do you have?"
He chuckles, "I don't mind but I would prefer to tell you over dinner."
There are no words. She can't believe that this old man is trying to pick her up.
As she searches for something to say Dr. Miller comes out from the back. "Mel! How are you doing?" Despite the difference in their ages, the two men talk like old schoolmates. "So, you're finally going to do it, huh?"
"That's why I'm here."
The doctor takes Mel's paperwork and starts back down the hall.
Before following behind him, Mel smiles at her, "Miss Glenn, my phone number is on the paperwork. Call me and we will have dinner." He starts down the hallway after the doctor and adds, "And, Amber, the pamphlet said that you might want to wait a week."
No comments:
Post a Comment