Blood drips onto the cover of the Highlights magazine in my hands. Sure is foggy and beige in here. My tongue can’t stop finding the gap where my right front tooth used to protrude. This chair is uncomfortable. The armrests are too far apart and there’s nowhere to put my feet. When do I get my chance to putt?
The blood is leaking through a wad of netting now replacing the tooth. I can’t chew with this stuff where it is. How are we going to fix it? Last time I lost this tooth I got five dollars. Are we in the Tooth Fairy’s house? Is that why it smells like numbing blue pillows in here? I would so much prefer to smell the green right now.
My tongue rests up in the gum, in the gap, pressing into the netting, caressing the pulsing. Tastes salty. I’ll have to spit soon. The lights in here are too bright and there’s a woman trapped behind a glass wall over there. Maybe I should help her escape. I could break the glass if I had my putter.
“Is it my turn to putt yet, mommy?”
“No honey, just sit still please.”
She’s looking at something about New Yorkers. I never met a New Yorker. Someone is talking about car washes. I don’t care about car washes. I slide down in the seat until my feet touch the floor. I can hear high-pitch whines coming from nowhere.
“Oh honey, you’re bleeding again.”
I put my chin to my chest, wiping the wetness onto my collar. Mom gives my chin a swipe with a tissue; it turns red. She puts it in the basket in the corner next to the plant. It’s a very nice looking plant. I should be sure to introduce myself before I leave.
“Mrs. Stearns, the doctor will see you now,” A woman has appeared through the wall next to the glass! What is this place? Where is the windmill? Is it my turn?
“Great. Let’s go, sweetie,” mom pulls me by the hand before I can object. We’re going through the void in the wall. Goodbye, strange foggy room!
“In here, please”
In here? What’s in here? Oh no what is that torture chair? Do I have to sit there?
“Let’s go honey, take a seat,” mom wants me to sit there!
The floodgates open. I can’t help it. Blood and tears. Tears and blood.
“Hi Mrs. Stearns, how are we today?”
“Hi doctor, as I’m sure you can see, we’ve been better. He’s lost a tooth.”
“Oh no! How’d it happen?”
“His summer camp had a field trip to a mini-golf course. There was a kid, a troublemaker, you know the type, running around swinging his putter wildly. Hit little Joseph right in the mouth. Had to give him a couple painkillers to calm him down.”
“Oh no! Well let’s get him all fixed up. Joseph, open up and say ah. This is going to pinch a little.”`