Part I
The spring semester was fast approaching when Danny finally made the decision to try out for his college track team. He had been encouraged by his friends to join the basketball and football teams for some time, but Danny had always had an excuse not to. He was always too busy with schoolwork, or wanted to spend time with his friends. In reality, it was the fact that he was very awkward, had low self-esteem, and was self-conscious, that stopped him. It was Danny's sister, Cindy, who finally convinced him that the track team would be good for him.
"It will make you more feel more confident, and stronger. You'll be great," Cindy encouraged him.
Danny finally agreed. Since Danny and Cindy were both attending the same college, and had some of the same classes, they went together to get Danny signed up for the track team tryouts. The paperwork seemed simple enough: Name, Address, Date of Birth, and an attached doctor's note. Pretty basic stuff, except for the doctor's note. It had been almost two years since Danny had been to his doctor. He was healthy, and although their mother had always advised both Danny and Cindy to see a doctor at least once a year, they had convinced her that being in college, they were old enough to handle their own medical care.
Danny took the forms home, and the next day reluctantly called his doctor's office to schedule an appointment. The receptionist advised Danny that his regular provider had retired. Danny explained that in order to try out for the team, he needed the completed note by the following Monday. The receptionist suggested Danny set up an appointment with a Dr. Rosen.
"She's a new doctor who just joined our practice a few weeks ago. She can see you this Wednesday," the receptionist informed him.
"She?" Danny asked suddenly concerned.
"Yes, she's really quite good," the receptionist assured him.
Weighing his options, Danny hesitantly agreed, and he and Cindy spent the rest of the day studying. They had always been inseparable. Even as kids, they'd play video games, go to the mall, and just hang out together. Danny was only a year ahead of Cindy, so it was only natural that when it came time to pick a college, Cindy chose the same school. It was, after all, close to the home their parents had left them when they passed away, and made much more sense from a financial standpoint. Even though their parents had left them comfortable, sharing all the expenses made it much easier on both of them.
It wasn't surprising that when Wednesday came, Danny asked Cindy to go with him to the doctor's office.
"I'm a little nervous," Danny admitted. "I just really need a little moral support. You know how I hate needles."
Cindy quickly agreed, and joked that she would even hold Danny's hand if the doctor needed to draw blood. After Wednesday's classes, the two jumped into Danny's car and drove to his doctor's office. When they got to the office, they noted the new sign on the door: Dr. Barbara Rosen, Internal Medicine. Danny liked the fact that he didn't have to see his childhood pediatrician anymore, but still wasn't too sure about seeing a female doctor.
"A quick office visit, get the form signed, and I'm out of here," he thought to himself.
Danny signed in and he and Cindy sat down in the waiting room.
"Look how old these magazines are!" Cindy laughed out loud. "I guess there's more to that old joke than I thought."
"I guess so," Danny agreed nervously.
"Hey listen, don't be so tense Danny. It's no big deal. It's just a quick checkup. Relax," Cindy said, trying to comfort him.
"I know, I'll be OK," he assured her.
They waited about 20 minutes before a nurse finally called Danny's name. As he walked to the door and was being greeted by the nurse, he piped up;
"Um, would it be okay if my sister came with me?"
"Absolutely!" The nurse replied enthusiastically.
The three walked down the hallway to an examination room. The nurse pulled out the roll of paper on the exam table and instructed Danny to take a seat on the table. Cindy took a seat in the corner of the room in one of the two chairs facing the table. The nurse explained that the office had been very busy with students needing physical examinations. Danny's eyebrows raised.
"Oh, I don't really need an exam ma'am; I just need this form signed. I feel fine," he informed the nurse hopefully.
"Well, the doctor will determine how fine you are after she examines you," the nurse replied smiling. "Now just relax so I can take your temperature and blood pressure."
The nurse popped the thermometer in his mouth and began pumping the bulb on the blood pressure cuff. Meanwhile, she began reciting all of Dr. Rosen's qualifications, explaining that she came highly recommended and was very well respected among her peers.
"She's a fine doctor who really knows her stuff. She's very thorough," the nurse continued. "You're doing great Danny, everything looks good," she advised him. "Now, I need you to strip down to your underwear and wait on the table. The doctor will be right with you," she instructed him matter-of-factly.
With that, the nurse left the room. Cindy could almost hear Danny's heart skip a beat.
"Come on Danny, I see you naked around the house all the time. It's not a big deal. Do you want me to leave?" she asked sarcastically.
"Nah, it's okay. That's true, and besides, it's no different than wearing a bathing suit really," he responded, having convinced himself.
He nervously began removing his clothes. Shoes first, then his socks. He undid his belt and lowered his jeans and stepped out of them, placing them on the other chair. He took a deep breath and pulled his T-shirt over his head. Then, he took a seat on the exam table, wearing nothing but clean white briefs, his legs hanging over the side. He tried to avoid eye contact with Cindy and waited quietly for Dr. Rosen. Cindy was staring at him and could sense that Danny was nervous. Soon, there was a knock on the door, and a very attractive woman in her early 30's entered, wearing a lab coat and carrying a clipboard with Danny's medical records.
"Hello. I'm Barbara Rosen. You must be Danny. Pleased to meet you. I see you've brought a friend along today," she greeted him.
"Hi. Yeah, this is my sister Cindy. We just came here to get this form signed so I can try out for the track team," Danny explained.
"Well, Danny, I'll be happy to sign your form, but we've got to make sure everything is OK first. I'm just going to do a quick physical. You're comfortable with Cindy here?" she questioned him.
"Yeah, I guess so. It's just a checkup, right?" he asked hopefully.
