Calling All Dentists (Calling All... Book 2), page 18
“Open,” she barked, while holding a small hooked tool in her hand which Emma could just see from the corner of her eye. Emma opened her mouth and screwed her eyes tightly shut. “Open,” repeated the dentist. “Wide please. Much wide now.”
“Argh,” cried Emma as the metal hook touched one of her teeth on the bottom row. Opening her eyes, Emma looked up in desperation at the Chinese ladies piercing, dark eyes.
“Not gud,” she said, shaking her head from side to side as she moved the tool around the inside of Emma’s mouth. Emma’s whole body was rigid with fear and her feet were clenched together at the other end of the chair.
“Argh.” The pain sent an electric shock through her gums and Emma attempted to snap her mouth closed.
“Open. You have pain?”
No it’s just the way I freaking well sing! Emma wanted to say but nodded her head desperately, instead. Tears lay on the surface of her eyes and she continued to grip her hands together so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
“Ah yes, I see periodontitis. Not gud… yes?” The dentist mumbled and looked up to the nurse standing on the opposite side of the chair. “You smoke, yes?” Emma shook her head. “You drink lot of alco-whole?” Emma shook her head again, desperately trying to understand what the young, stern-faced woman was trying to say. The dentist reeled off a complicated dialogue of numbers, letters and unrecognizable words to the nurse opposite, who scribbled things on to a form.
“Argh…urgh,” shouted Emma, “’Hat ‘urts.”
“Yes, yes” the dentist nodded slowly and almost sadistically, thought Emma, as the woman grinned to herself. “You clean teeth all time yes?”
Emma nodded again, what did this stupid bloody woman think she was… a dirty skank that never brushed her teeth?
“Ah.” Withdrawing the hooked probe, the dentist moved the patient chair and Emma to an upright, seated position. “You are final stage periodontitis. Not gud.”
“What does she need to do?” asked Emma’s mum, standing up and rubbing Emma’s trembling, right leg.
“Err.. Final stage? Month and month treat…ment, long time. Some you lose, some stay with treat…ment.” The woman was shaking her head all of the time that she spoke and her wrinkled up nose gave the impression that she was disgusted.
Emma moved to the edge of the chair again and hung her head like a naughty school-girl.
“We give anti-biotic,” said the dentist, “You come back. We start treat…ment?” The nurse was still frantically scribbling things down on to the clipboard. Emma couldn’t look up and remained seated with her head held down, she was ashamed, she was hot with anger, she was totally embarrassed by the dentist’s remarks – she hated herself and she hated this demon of a dentist woman.
“So how much could this cost?” Emma’s mum asked.
“Err… many treat…ment. Come many time. Small price for gud teeth. Yes? Smile impor…tant for young lady. Err… can be some thousands pound. We know more when x-ray and treat…ment start.”
“Ok, thank you.” Emma’s mum nodded and smiled.
“You go, make point-ment one week – we can start?”
“Yes,” said Emma, nodding as she stood up and began to edge towards the door.
“Thank-you. Gud-bye,” mumbled the little Chinese lady, with her back turned. She was already looking at her computer and searching through files.
“I’m not going back there,” said Emma, holding a prescription in her hand, as they quickly walked back to the car. “I’ll cancel the appointment tomorrow, sorry Mum.”
“But you’ve got to get your teeth sorted out Emma.”
“She was horrible Mum!” Emma climbed in to the passenger seat. “She looked at me like I was some sort of filthy tramp.”
“She wasn’t that bad. You need to do this or you’re going to lose all of your teeth and then what will you do?”
Emma shrugged, “Don’t know. Can’t we find a nicer one?”
“A ‘nicer’ one will say the same thing Emma. You’re losing your teeth!”
“I know, I just didn’t like her at all. I’m not going back there Mum. I’m sorry but I’ll find another one myself if I have to.”
The mobile phone lit up briefly and then turned straight off again. ‘Damn’, mumbled Emma and threw it in to her bag in frustration. “Right, I’m going home now,” she called through to the living room. Giving everyone a peck goodbye (including Aaron who’d only been awake for an hour and had noticed her missing tooth already and laughed his tatty head off, much to the annoyance of Mum), Emma walked to the front door.
“I’ll ring you in the morning if I manage to get you in at the medical centre. I’ll talk to my friend Carol, there – and make sure you pick up your tablets. You need to get rid of that abscess pretty quick Emma. They can be very dangerous things.”
“Ok Mum. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine, Bye.” Bless her, thought Emma as she drove away, waving goodbye. Her mum always sorted everything out for absolutely everyone. Although Emma didn’t want to face the situation, she knew she had to and maybe the NHS Medical Centre would be a nicer place with much nicer dentists. At least her mum was going to explain more clearly, how terribly nervous she was, and that she really needed to see a very sympathetic dentist that would understand her fears.
Hugging your best friend can be the best thing in the world sometimes, thought Emma as she squeezed Ruby tightly. “I’ve really missed you Rue.”
Recovering from almost being crushed, Ruby shuffled through to the kitchen in her fluffy booties and flicked the kettle on. “I’ll make some hot chocolate and you can tell me everything, if you want to, that is.”
“I need to contact Colin first. I’m not going back in this week – how can I?” said Emma, removing her coat and throwing it on the table. “Could I borrow your mobile, and that’s another story.”
Colin my phone is broken, had to borrow Ruby’s. Went to doctors today, still feeling ill. Got anti-biotic, so won’t be back this week. Also the funeral is next Monday, really sorry for all the inconvenience. Hope to be back next Tuesday. Emma.
“What’s happened to your phone?” asked Ruby, taking her mobile as Emma handed it back.
“It went for a swim in the bath. Now I can’t contact Andrew as I don’t know what his number is.” Emma sighed.
“Do you know where he lives?”
“Yes but I’m not going round there Rue, he can’t see me like this,” said Emma, pointing to the gap in her mouth.
“You can’t see it that much,” said Ruby, squinting at Emma’s mouth.
“But you can see it a bit and that ‘bit’ is enough to keep me from going round to see him.”
“I’m sure he’d understand Emma. Why don’t you just tell him? You always say that if someone doesn’t like you as you are then they can clear off.”
“Yeah but this is different, I don’t want him to clear off.”
“Oh, I see,” said Ruby, raising her eyebrows. “I’ve still got my old mobile if you’d like to borrow it.”
“Have you?” Emma’s eyes lit up. “If I could borrow it, I could drop a note through his door and give him the number. Where is it?”
“It‘s at my parent’s house. I left it when my new one was delivered there. Mum was going to use it but she ended up buying herself a new one, like mine.” Emma frowned at her, “I’ll go over there tomorrow after work and pick it up.”
Emma smiled. “Thank you. You’re a real treasure Ruby, I owe you one.” Ruby smiled and handed a mug of hot chocolate to her.
“Let’s sit down and you can tell me all about Andrew and everything else,” said Ruby, suddenly sounding quite dominant – which really wasn’t like Ruby at all.
Maybe she was one of those people who suddenly became the strong leader in a crisis – but only in a crisis, thought Emma. Maybe she didn’t know the real Ruby at all and just assumed she was a bookworm who lived in her own little world because that’s all Emma ever saw.
An hour and a half later and several deep inhales of breath during her incessant talking, Emma reflected on the countless facial expressions, displaying every emotion conceivable, that Ruby had made as Emma went in to great detail about her experiences with Andrew, the devil-dentist and her grandad’s sudden death.
Curled up in the chair, Ruby looked very weary, “So you’ll definitely go through with it if your mum gets you an appointment at the Medical Centre then?”
“Yep,” said Emma trying to sound confident but looking like she’d seen a ghost, “I’ve got to haven’t I?”
“Um,” replied Ruby, rubbing her red eyes. “I’m really going to have to go to bed Emma, I’m sorry. I’ve got to get up early in the morning.”
“Before you go, what did they say at work today?”
“Oh, Colin and Jeff didn’t say anything. Dave said you probably had a week-long hangover but he also said to say sorry about your grandad. And Pete just asked how you were.”
“Ok, so they don’t think anything dodgy is going on.”
“No, not at all.”
“How was it when you saw Pete again?”
Ruby smiled, “He said good morning and then made a herbal tea for me. We were the first ones there. Then he sat at my desk for a few minutes and said he was looking forward to going out on Saturday.” Ruby’s smile turned in to a big cheesy grin, “I went really red and he said I looked sweet when I blushed.” And then Ruby blushed as if she was giving Emma a demonstration.
“Ah, I’m so pleased that you two have got it together Rue,” said Emma, giving her a gappy-grin, “You just need to give him one now.”
“One what?”
“You know… sleep with him.”
“I slept on the sofa all night with him last week.” Ruby stood up and wrapped her gown tightly around her.
“Ah you know what I mean,” said Emma, raising her eyebrows.
“Um, I’m going to bed now. Night, night Em.”
“Goodnight Rue and remember, I’m ill. This has nothing to do with my teeth, if anyone asks at work. And can you still try and find out who gave me that present – I really need to know what I’m up against here.”
Ruby nodded her head and yawned. “I’ll try. Honestly I’ll try Emma. Night, night.”
Chapter 16
It had only been 24 hours but it felt like a lot longer. Emma missed Andrew’s text messages terribly, in fact she missed him even more and what must he be thinking? He would have received her last message yesterday morning, probably replied to it (maybe at lunchtime – but almost certainly by the evening) and then not heard anything back from her. She had to get in contact with him soon in case he decided to turn up at her flat to see why she hadn’t replied to his messages. Lying in her bed musing, Emma suddenly heard the phone ringing. It couldn’t be Andrew, he didn’t have her home phone number and at this time of the morning he would surely be at work.
“Hello,” she said hesitantly.
“Emma, I’ve made you an appointment for tomorrow afternoon at 3.15. Is that all right love?”
“Oh yes, thanks Mum, can you come with me again?” Emma felt a bit silly at her age, asking her mum to go with her.
“Of course I will love. I’m going in to work in the morning but I’ll come over about two o’clock. Is that ok?”
“Yeah, thanks Mum, love you.”
“Love you too honey. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
The long day dragged by and Emma tried to busy herself with menial chores around the flat, once she’d been to collect her prescription of anti-biotic tablets. Now and again she went in to the bathroom and spoke to the mirror – and the gap was slightly visible every time. She thought about filling it with chewing-gum, a mint Tic Tac or maybe even the old tooth if she could somehow saw off the root and just wedge it in. She knew she was being absolutely ridiculous and if anyone could tell what she was thinking, she was sure she’d be put in a mental institute. Pacing up and down the flat, which seemed to be shrinking with every step, Emma looked for things to do and waited for Ruby to come home from work.
“Sorry I’m so late Em,” said Ruby, taking her coat off and neatly hanging it on a coat hook by the door, “Mum insisted I stay for a bit of tea.”
“That’s ok, did you get it?”
“Yes, here – it needs charging.” Ruby passed the antique mobile phone to Emma, “I think there’s still some credit on it,” she said as she took her lunchbox from her bag and went to wash it up, ready for re-filling in the morning.
“How’s everyone at work?” asked Emma, plugging the charger in to a socket.
“Ok. Colin asked what was wrong with you today.”
“And what did you say?” Emma knew Ruby would be no use at lying to anyone.
“I said you were very poorly, that’s all.”
“Ah, well done – you lied! Didn’t he question it?”
“No, he just said ok and walked off. It was only a little white lie, after all you are poorly in a way,” Ruby said in her defence.
“Are the other’s all right?” Emma plugged the charger in to the phone and it lit up with a battery display showing that it was charging.
“Yes. Although it’s been a short week, I think everyone is looking forward to the weekend. Mr Kibble has been on the phone again today as well,” she giggled.
Ruby had definitely changed, thought Emma. She seemed to be more alert, more switched on to what was happening around her. “Oh dear, I bet Jeff was pleased about that. What did he want this time?”
“A snow-shovel.”
“Are we expecting snow then?”
Ruby giggled, “I don’t think so but he didn’t want it for the snow anyway…” she paused and turned around from the sink. “He’s going to remove the handle and make a small canopy, from the ‘shovel’ part and fix it above the new cat-flap he’s just put in.”
“Oh dear!” Emma burst into laughter and realised she hadn’t laughed like this for some time. “And how’s Pete?” she managed to splutter out.
Ruby smiled coyly, “He’s fine. We went out at lunchtime for a coffee, well I had a Liptons Iced Tea.”
“Ah, that’s sweet Rue.” Emma smiled. She missed everyone at work, even Pete, and she honestly never thought she would ever think like that. Leaning against the kitchen worktop, waiting for any signs of life from the mobile phone, Emma asked, “Do you know what the number is?”
“No, I can’t remember. I’ve never been any good at remembering phone numbers, even when it’s my own, sorry Em.”
“Why are you leaving it so late?” asked Ruby, tucking in to a large baked potato with coleslaw piled on the top.
“I want to make sure he’s in bed and won’t see me. I can’t risk it Rue. Hopefully he might notice he has mail before he goes to work in the morning and then he can text me.”
“How do you know he’ll be in bed at eleven o’clock?”
“Well I might just leave it later than that then.”
“What are you going to do Em? Surely you can’t avoid him for too long.”
“I really don’t know. I’m going to see another dentist tomorrow so I’ll see what they say. They might even be able to put a temporary tooth in or something.” Emma couldn’t bear to think what might really happen. Ignorance is bliss, she kept thinking to herself, foolishly.
Ruby had shuffled off to bed over an hour ago and Emma sat in the living room with a pen poised on the notepad, trying to think what to write.
Dear Andrew,
This is my new… She tore the piece of paper from the pad and scrunched it up, her handwriting wasn’t neat enough.
Dear Andrew,
Here is my new mobile number because the other one drowned in the bath sadly, before I could dive in (naked of course) and rescue it… Again, she ripped the paper away from its binding, screwed it up and fired it in to the waste paper bin – sounds too childish, she thought.
Hi Andy,
I’ve got a new number, sorry if you’ve tried to contact me. My old phone died after a watery accident so I’ve had to borrow one from Ruby (my flat-mate). I couldn’t contact you because I didn’t know your number. Anyway, hope to hear from you soon.
Love from Emma xxx
Tel: 079495797…
She read it once, folded it in half and pushed it in to an envelope. Then she pretended to be Andrew, pulled the letter out and read it again, trying to imagine what he would think. Did it sound ok? She wondered. Why was she being so over-sensitive about the content and quality of a hand-written note for goodness sake? Leaving it on the arm of the sofa, she went through to the kitchen and made a coffee, she’d go after she had finished it. It would then be approaching midnight by the time she arrived at Andrew’s place and hopefully he would be asleep.
I’ll just read it one more time and then seal the envelope, she decided. Contented that the note had no underlying tones of anything, except the simple message she wanted Andrew to perceive, she tucked it back in the envelope, licked it and stuck it down. Then she rubbed the back repeatedly to ensure it was stuck down properly. Neatly writing his name on the front of the envelope, it dawned on her that she still didn’t know his last name – how stupid. She made it clear (she hoped) by writing ‘Andrew- flat number 3’ and then sighed as she gazed at it, pondering over whether it looked ok or not. Then she left home in the middle of the night.
***
48 hours was an even longer time to not hear from the person that Emma had become so close to in the course of just two weeks. She padded in to the kitchen, turned the kettle on and began to tidy up. The red suede shoes were still on the windowsill but at least Ruby had emptied the dirt from them at some point. Emma decided that she would clean them (the best she could, bearing in mind they were stained inside from the soil and they were suede) this morning while she waited: a – To hear from Andrew and b – To go to the dentists. She’d almost forgotten about the dentist because she’d been so wrapped up with thoughts of Andrew.
