ATTENTION
'Ms. Josie, come in here. I need you now.' Dr. Bloom told me to stand behind his patient who was barely covered with a thin sheet. She was lying still as death on a long table. 'Don't talk to her. Do nothing unless I tell you to. Unfold your arms!' Mine dropped almost to my shaking knees. 'Stand up straight, do your best to look like you' re not new here. ' I barely whispered, 'But I am. This is my first job.' Dr. Bloom turned a pale shade of green but kept his mouth shut. My mind traveled by leaps and bounds. 'Josie, you have a job, a real one day a week job to start'. So I stood straighter and felt like I was spreading a peacock's rainbow tail.
Almost a roar came from Dr. Bloom as he noticed the fake silver and gold circle pin I had on my blouse top. 'Take that god awful thing off.
You aren't at a party. Didn't your father explain what I expect of you in my medical practice?' I was stunned, didn't understand what he meant. My lips felt like they were glued together. I removed my pin and didn't know where to put it. With no purse, no pockets, I dropped it in the trash can.
You aren't at a party. Didn't your father explain what I expect of you in my medical practice?' I was stunned, didn't understand what he meant. My lips felt like they were glued together. I removed my pin and didn't know where to put it. With no purse, no pockets, I dropped it in the trash can.
The patient stirred. Dr. Bloom gently removed the sheet from her body and I almost threw up. The lady had only one breast. A long cut had fiery red stitches down it. I saw the patient's hand clutch the side of the table as a tear ran down her cheek. Her head tilted back a little and she saw me standing still, surely saw Dr. Bloom putting on fresh rubber gloves.
Was the room spinning around? Were my feet as cold as they seemed?
Why, oh why, did my father ask his friend, Dr. Bloom, to give me a job other than to get me interested in something besides boys? The doctor's strong, yet warm voice, merely suggested I leave the room, talk to Daisy at the front desk. 'Watch her, pay attention to how she answers the phone, what questions she asks the caller. Now, get out of here. I'll call you if I need you.' My peacock tail shrank to a duck's behind.
Why, oh why, did my father ask his friend, Dr. Bloom, to give me a job other than to get me interested in something besides boys? The doctor's strong, yet warm voice, merely suggested I leave the room, talk to Daisy at the front desk. 'Watch her, pay attention to how she answers the phone, what questions she asks the caller. Now, get out of here. I'll call you if I need you.' My peacock tail shrank to a duck's behind.
The ringing phone kept Daisy busy. Her voice was soft and pleasant. Sometimes one or two words to the caller sufficed. 'Tomorrow,' 'July 12, 2 p.m.' and she would end the call by lowering the receiver gently.
The lady with the horrible scar down her chest came out of the doctor's examining room. She smiled, toodle-oohed me and was gone.
The lady with the horrible scar down her chest came out of the doctor's examining room. She smiled, toodle-oohed me and was gone.
At dinner I told my father about my terrible day, how gruesome it was.
'Then you want me to tell Dr. Bloom you won't be back, that you have no guts, aren't willing to learn, to help, that you don't want the $25?' 'Daddy, I didn't say that exactly. I can be helpful at the desk, weigh patients, always smile. Please call him for me, ask him if I can try again.' 'Straighten your spine, Girl. You call him.' Evening had already dropped its curtain and I knew for sure office hours were over. That put the skids on my bare feet.
'Then you want me to tell Dr. Bloom you won't be back, that you have no guts, aren't willing to learn, to help, that you don't want the $25?' 'Daddy, I didn't say that exactly. I can be helpful at the desk, weigh patients, always smile. Please call him for me, ask him if I can try again.' 'Straighten your spine, Girl. You call him.' Evening had already dropped its curtain and I knew for sure office hours were over. That put the skids on my bare feet.
Sleeping was fitful, bloody, gory. Broken dreams swirled, tossed me from side to side in my soft, usually comfortable bed. A weight was pressing on my mind. By the time the sun was making my room glow with pink lights, I knew what I had to do. I looked around for the brass pin I had been wearing at Dr. Bloom's and remembered how I trashed it. That proved to me I was an idiot. My parents had fixed their own small breakfast and left the crumbs for me to clear away. The sun, and our kooky cuckoo clock finally let me know it was almost noon.
Gingerly I dialed Dr. Bloom's office and heard Daisy's voice. 'Dr. Bloom's office, may I help you?' 'Daisy, this is Josie, can I possibly speak to Dr. Bloom now? Soon? ' I could hear the little buzzer she had on the side of her desk to reach the doctor. Oh, God, let me get my words out right!' Somewhat grumpily, Dr. Bloom asked me what I want.
My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he heard it. I straightened my back a little and apologized for my mis-steps yesterday. 'Dr. Bloom, I am absolutely sure, with Daisy's guidance, I can do a good job as a receptionist. I watched her, listened to her for two hours after I left you. She is so good at what she does but was definitely frazzled at times.' There was an eternal few minutes of silence before he suggested I come in after office hours Friday, 6 p.m. to discuss it.
My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he heard it. I straightened my back a little and apologized for my mis-steps yesterday. 'Dr. Bloom, I am absolutely sure, with Daisy's guidance, I can do a good job as a receptionist. I watched her, listened to her for two hours after I left you. She is so good at what she does but was definitely frazzled at times.' There was an eternal few minutes of silence before he suggested I come in after office hours Friday, 6 p.m. to discuss it.
Could he see my huge smile thru the telephone lines, hear my sigh of surprise and joy? That was my real beginning with the medical profession. I did become good at my job full time, five days a week.
The one dark spot was I had the phone constantly buzzing in my ear
while Daisy had Dr. Bloom wrapped around her finger, letting the sun make her two carat diamond sparkle.
while Daisy had Dr. Bloom wrapped around her finger, letting the sun make her two carat diamond sparkle.
