Today is a big day for me. Today is the day that I, Barbara Jean Booker, am able to show people at the temp agency that she can hold down a job. I got up about six-thirty this morning just to be early getting started. Walking into the bathroom I realized that I needed more toilet paper. Maybe if I don't use as much right now, I can buy some after work. I started brushing my teeth and then started laughing because my new boss just happens to be a dentist. When I got to work that morning there was a short, thin, fire engine red haired woman standing at the desk standing awfully close to the man who looked like he was the head honcho. Right before the woman turned to face me, they kissed. Ah, they must be a married couple. When she saw me she got really excited.
"Oh! You must be Barbara Jean, right?" She asked me.
"Yes, yes I am. Are you Mrs. Hart?" I asked with a smile. She kinda chuckled.
"Call me Reba." She said. "I'm going to be showing you the ropes of what you will be doing around here because you're my replacement."
"Oh really? Why are you leaving?" I asked her, not to be nosy. I was just curious. Reba turned around and looked at me.
"I wanted to spend some more time with my kids. I have a five year old little boy, a twelve year old girl and a teenager." Reba said. I looked back and pointed at the man we were just standing by.
"Is that your husband?" I asked. Reba looked at him and smiled.
"Yeah, that's him. We've been married twenty years. Feels like it has been forever, but I love him anyway." Reba laughed out loud. I chuckled along with her.
"I can understand what you're saying there." I said trying to fit in. She looked at me.
"I'm sure you can." She said with a disbelieving and obviously fake smile.
"Well, what all am I going to be doing here?" I asked her. Her genuine smile came back and was really big on her face.
"I know I'm going to like you! Your job is simple. Just assist Brock, excuse me Doctor Hart, in whatever he asks. He can't do a lot of the work without you anyway." Reba said.
"Okay, that sounds like it is easy enough." I respond.
"Do you want to try? He's in with a patient right now." She told me. I nodded nervously.
"Sure? Why not? It can't be too hard." I said.
"It is examining room number four. Right down the hall there." Reba pointed it out for me and I walk down the lonely hallway by myself. I can hear a kind of soft spoken male voice coming from the room. When I go inside I realize it's the dentist. It seems as though he's almost finished with what he's doing.
"Doctor, this is your new hygienist." Reba said. I jumped ten feet off the ground because I wasn't expecting to see her there. He turned and looked at me.
"Hello, I'm Doctor Hart. I see you've already met my wife. She's leaving me because she would rather pursue her career as a mother." Doctor Hart said. "But I do support her. She is a great mother to my kids. I love her."
"Thanks darlin'." Reba replied. She turned to leave the room when Doctor Hart touched her arm. She turned around and faced him. They kissed lightly once again before she left. I watched her leave the room and looked at her as she walked down the hallway. She must have felt my eyes on her because she turned around and looked at me.
"You can come with me if you'd like Barbara Jean. You don't have to stay in there. I just thought you would like to meet your boss." I followed her down the hallway. "He's in with a patient right now, but he will be freer in a few minutes to talk to you." Reba stated. I nodded. Looking at her, I envied her. That beautiful red hair, a body that seems to taunt, and a butt that seems to dare you to look at it. This woman was sexy, pure and simple. Not to mention she was just the right height. I have always been taller than the men I've dated. Reba and I stood at the counter in silence for several minutes before Doctor Hart came back out.
"Hi hon, how was the patient?" Reba asked.
"He is doing well. No cavities; he didn't need anything pulled." Doctor Hart replied.
"That's definitely good Doctor Hart." I said with a smile, desperately trying to get his approval. I must have got it because he smiled at me.
"Why don't you go check out the patient in examining room number one? I know it's your first day and all. But it's always good to jump into the water headfirst. I have to go wash my hands and then I will be seeing other patients." He said.
"And I will be heading home. I gotta go pick up Jake from kindergarten any minute." Reba said.
"I'll see you at home." Brock told her. They kissed again. She picked up her purse and walked out of the office. I walked into examining room one, wishing once again that I looked like that. It looked like the temp agency wasn't going to have to kick me out of the program. I think I'd finally found my calling.
