Chapter 2
The tips of Dr. Nick Allen’s rubber gloves dampened all the way
through to the skin; there was even a hint of blood speckled on the
side of his index finger. The girl started to whine before he was done.
“No, no, it’s all right,” he said gently, wrapping another part of white
floss around his finger. “It’s normal for your gums to bleed a little bit.
Everyone’s does. It just means that you’re not flossing enough!”
The girl sat up in the chair and instead diverted her attention to
the cartoon characters on the screen above, something not all
offices could afford to have in every room. Frankly, Nick didn’t know
what they would have done without them. They were perfect. They
kept everybody at ease, adults and children alike, and kept them
entertained while he did his work at peace. The girl rinsed with a
Dixie cup and then he replaced the gloves and adjusted the paper
mask across his mouth. He wiped his little mirror on the oversized
napkin around the kid’s neck, not even noticing one of the assistants
coming in next to him. “Dr. Allen, here are the pastes.”
“Thanks.” He looked to the kid. “Which kind would you like best:
strawberry, bubblegum, or mint?”
“Bubblegum,” she squeaked.
He smiled. “Good choice!”
Nick put the little cups on a slide-out tray next to the patient’s chair
and loaded pink gunk on one of his tools.
“Now we’re going to polish your teeth and make them all shiny and
feeling fresh, okay? It won’t hurt, don’t worry. I promise.”
He had a nice voice, a pleasant sort of tone, the kind that comes
on over intercoms and has clear diction. It matched his clean cut and
gentlemanly face, with soft chocolate eyes and hair to match. He was
well-built and in decent shape for being in his early-thirties, but at
least he was nowhere near graying yet.
He polished along the kid’s teeth gently and gave her another Dixie
cup to rinse. She sat up and smiled at him, something he knew he
liked best coming from any kid who didn’t have a scary experience
at his office. He gathered some of his tools and put them at the sink
counter.
“Guess what?” he said. “You’re all done now.” He undid the paper
napkin at her neck and she promptly took that signal to mean she
could get out of the chair. “Wait just a second and I’ll get you some
special treats.”
Nick left for a minute and came back with a basket in one hand and
YOU ARE READING
All That Glitters
ActionThe town of Wickerwire, IA has a jewelry thief on the loose and he manages to get by completely undetected. The only trace he leaves behind is candy in place of the jewels he steals, the media dubbing him "The Candy Caper." He won't give up his heis...
