My handsome father just sat like a mute and I shut the front room door and I was ushered up the stairway and into a spare, converted upstairs room. The room was, as far as I could see, a real doctor's office...minus the fancy medical school diplomas on the wall. It was damn near perfect. A sturdy exam table with metal foot rests stood central with a white paper covering. It looked gynaecological in nature I guessed but I had yet to be placed on one in those early days of my life. A small rolling table with all sorts of medical equipment sat to one side. The body weight scales and a counter were by the window, covered by a net curtain. The room was bright and cheerful.
A large tall man dressed in white scrubs, a surgical mask covering much of his old, chubby face stood in one corner. His eyes were wide with fear as he was not sure what I was doing there or what I might say. Now the pair of so called medical "professionals" must have been about 70 or so in age. My dad was in his 40's, so they were still quite a bit older than he.
I thought of mum's instructions and threat to my dad and I played the bitch once again to hammer home a few points.
"Doctor Filbert?" I said holding out my delicate hand.
His eyes widened. "Yes?" His voice seemed rather high for such a burly fellow. His white hair on his head stood on end if I recall correctly.
"I am Tony's daughter. My mother gave strict instructions that my dad have a complete exam. Oh, yes, she said a thorough going over. A top to bottom exam in all ways possible. She said you and this good nurse were to have complete charge of him today and give any further treatments that might be needed!"
I had added a bit more to what mum actually said so they would not back out from this task and ruin my home life.
Doctor Filbert looked relaxed now...I could only see his eyes but they warmed to me.
"Sit down, my dear young lady. Such a lovely young woman to be so concerned for her dad's well being. My wife and I are very impressed." He said as his good wife nodded her chubby face and smiled in a very alluring way.
"You see, I don't want to be in the way. But I do know, Miriam, my mum, well...she wants it all to go smoothly and she made that very clear to my dad. I must tell you, she'd threatened to cancel "together time" and that means so much to dad. It really does. Today and any future medical appointments with you must be perfect, flawless really and then mum will be happy." I said sitting in a comfy little folding chair near the foot of the exam table.
"Nobody wants your dad to miss his together time with mum. All dads need it oodles! I am a doctor and I know these things." Doctor Filbert said smiling down at me.
"We are sure your mum will be happy with our work with your dad today. Don't worry. You just go back to the front room downstairs and read some magazines. We'll be about an hour or so up here with your dad. And you just stay downstairs. OK?" The grinning nurse urged with syrupy precision.
I smiled and nodded but had no intention of not going into stealth mode as soon as they all went upstairs again and shut this exam room door. I'd find out what they were up to, and most importantly, not screw things up!
I was just about to go and I thought of my dear, hard working dad. He worked so hard to please mum, he'd said so today in the kitchen while I listened unknown to them.
"Don't tell mum or dad. But just make sure dad can please mum completely every Sunday. He said he works hard to make her happy at together time, please just make sure he is able to do it and do it so she's happy. It means so much to dad and me." I whispered to the doctor as we headed for the stairway down.
He looked at me again and his eyes lit up. "Have no fear, it may take more than an hour and he may have to come back again for more treatment but we will make sure every part of him is in good working order."
The nurse patted my back and said, "We are very thorough! Your handsome dad is in very capable hands, my dear, very capable."
We moved back to the front room and dad waited anxiously by the door, pacing by the large piano in a bay window.
"Tony, your daughter is a marvel. You and Miriam have a winner here! She wants you in good health and that's what we do. Like a car, you are here for servicing." The doctor chuckled. Dad looked relieved and smiled warmly at me. I was a very assertive 20 year-old and he damn well knew it!
He moved forward on the balls of his feet, the leather shoes nearly dancing now toward the nurse's outstretched hands. I was so proud of him!
"Come this way Tony, the doctor will see you now." The nurse said taking his large sweaty hand in hers.
"And see you I shall!" The doctor said in a rather giddy way as he followed dad up the dark hallway stairs as the front room door slowly pushing shut.
