The onset of freedom

Strickland Calhoun sat quietly in the dentist chair waiting for the blue coat to come back and require an “open wide”. Suddenly nothing happened the way it seemed to have in the past. The blue coat didn’t return. The music that normally played from the white speaker adjacent to the large glaring light was not working. Something was discordant and this upset him gravely. He didn’t like to be out of his comfort zone. It disturbed him. It made the hair stand up on the nape of his neck, and soon cold sweats were to follow. He was sure of it, and didn’t like it. The digital clock on the wall that displayed Atomic time was flashing a warning signal and a gray indicator square indicated that it has lost signal. Nervously he checked his watch, then his cell phone, then the wall clock. Nothing. No change. He puzzled, coughed and cleared his throat and looked around as if to inquire to some unseen attendant as to the location of the nearest restroom. Seeing no one, hearing no music, having no sense of time to relate all these non-changes, he began to hum the national anthem. The blue coat returned, the signal LED flashed on the wall clock, and Nora Jones crooned from the white speaker. All was right with the world. The drill began and stopped. A co-pay and reschedule was given and recorded at the receptionist. A smile, a complimentary sugarfree throat lozenge, and a second glance at the receptionist as the door closed behind him.

Key, ignition, pay attendant, highway, music on, cell phone calls, then exit 19, then home. Nothing interestingly different except for the novocain and the sound of a diet coke can rolling mindlessly back and forth on the passenger side floor mat. Rattle… rattle.. crash…. Rattle..crash. “I must remember to throw that out,” he thought as the car found the driveway, parked itself. Placing hand to cheek, he could feel the tingly pain build indicating that soon he will feel again.