I'm almost 60 years old and almost 6'2'' and almost staying close to 200 lbs. I take pretty good care of myself and get away with lying about my age -- more due to genetics than gym time. It also helps that I have a full head of hair and a dark enough complexion to look tanned all year. Anyway, I'm a pretty good package for an old guy. I've been single since Mary died and I get out a bit but I'm not really a player anymore. My only physical problem is the sun damage from all those years on offshore rigs and vacations in the Caribbean. I go see the dermatologist every 3 or 4 months to get checked out for weird moles and precancerous growths.
No big deal if they catch them before anything develops. I like the Doc and have gotten well acquainted with the staff after three years of visits, joking with them about the 'trophies' they collect for biopsies and crowding their schedule with my frequent follow-up visits. There is one cute nurse that I particularly enjoy. She's got long black hair, flawless skin, a nice smile, sparkly eyes, and a ready sense of humor. Maybe a bit thick-limbed for an Asian girl, but not overweight and very well proportioned, as far as I could tell through those baggy scrubs. We always tease a bit as she takes notes, applies bandages, or pulls stiches. Nothing overt or inappropriate, just casual chit-chat that often draws a giggle or a mock scolding.
Once when I was being attended by the PA, I asked the name of that pretty Asian nurse, and she said "Oh, that's Celeste," just as she came into the room. Celeste asked, "Did you call me?" and the PA said "No, Mr. Lopez just asked the name of the pretty Asian nurse, and I said your name, but everything I need is on his chart."
Celeste blushed and said "Oh, he must mean Judith..."
"No, no," I said. "I meant you. I feel like I know you but I'm sorry that I never got your name.... But it is a pretty name, and it suits you well."
She flashed her familiar smile, the dimples perhaps a bit deeper. "Now you're just trying to dodge the biopsy, but it's got to be done so roll over and let me prepare you for the doctor." And so it went. They scheduled me for two weeks hence for the follow up.
My appointment was late on a Friday, and everyone was ready to wrap it up. I was pleased that it was Celeste that came to prep me for the exam. She asked if I needed a gown or just wanted to strip down to my undies. I told her I had no secrets from them, as they had all seen my entire body in the course of several extensive skin exams.
'Yeah," she said, "most of it..." with a laugh. "The doctor will be right with you."
The biopsy was negative, so the doctor just zapped a couple spots with liquid nitrogen and sent me on my way with best wishes for a pleasant weekend. I got dressed, had a brief chat with the receptionist and headed for the parking lot, stopping by the convenience store around the corner to pick up a six-pack and some chips. When I got back to the nearly empty lot Celeste was standing beside her car looking vexed.
She saw me approaching and said, "Damned thing won't start!" By way of demonstration, she got behind the wheel and tried the starter again. It groaned and ticked and died.
"Your battery is dead," I told her. "Bummer, but I have jumper cables in my rig, and I can probably get you going."
"Oh, thank you Mr. Lopez. I hope that's all it takes."
And it was. I connected the batteries, and she started it right up, rewarding my meagre efforts with a big smile. I told her to take it around the block a few times to see if the alternator was working enough to charge it up and then come back here to see if it will start again. She drove off with a wave and a smile and was back in 15 minutes. She turned off the motor and then held her breath as she tried the ignition again. It fired right up, and she cheered as she revved the engine. "You are the greatest Mr. Lopez! Thank you sooo much. How can I repay you?"
"Well," I said, "first of all it's not Mr. Lopez but Danny, and second of all, you could join me for a cup of coffee at the bistro on the corner and we can come back and see if it is charged up enough to start again."
She flashed another grateful grin and said "You bet, and I really appreciate your help with this. I need to get to the gym by 7:00 and I didn't want to have to deal with a dead car. Let's go and I'll buy."
We settled into a booth with our lattes and talked like two friends rather than patient and nurse. I found out her parents were Filipino on the mother's side and Scottish-Chinese on the father's. She was 27 years old and wasn't seeing anyone since her former boyfriend took a job in Alaska almost a year ago. She commented that she knew my age from the office records, but would have guessed much younger, and asked, rather coquettishly I thought, if I frequented a gym. Getting a 'no' she asked what I did to stay so fit. I told her I had good genes, an active job, and then lied that I played a lot of sports. She said whatever it was it was working for me, and so after some feigned modesty followed by an awkward pause, I took my shot...