Preston Visits the Doctor

PRESTON VISITS THE DOCTOR

“Preston, let’s get in the car,” mom tells me. “It’s time to get a check up at the doctor’s office.”
“Mom, do I really have to go?” I ask.

“Preston, you have to get checked out before you start school, “she replies.

“I want to go to school but I hate going to the doctor,” I say.

“It won’t be bad at all,” she says. “You worry too much.”

We get in the car and head out onto the street. I wave to my friend, Jerry. He lives on my street and is my best friend. He had his check up a few days ago. He didn’t get a shot or anything that made him cry.''

Finally, we arrive at the doctor’s office and I am slowly unbuckling my seatbelt. I sure don’t want to go inside. I just know I’m not going to have fun here today.

We check in with the lady my mom says is a receptionist. She writes down my name and tells us to be seated. My mom is looking at a magazine and I am coloring a picture in the coloring book that was lying on the table. All the really good pictures have already been colored by other kids who visit this office too. Then I hear a voice calling me, “Preston, the doctor will see you now,” Nurse Tina calls out.

“Oh, no, here I go,” I say to my mom as I look a little sad.

“It will be okay, Preston,” she says. “It won’t be bad at all.”

“Preston, please put on this gown and let your mom tie it in the back,” Nurse Tina instructs me.

Now I’m dressed in this gown with little yellow ducks all over it. I’m feeling really stupid. Not like a boy at all, but more like a girl wearing a dress. I’m waiting for Dr. Webb to come in and do whatever he does for a check up. I hear a noise outside the exam room and I think its Dr. Webb getting my chart.

“Well, Preston, so good to see you today,” he says with a big smile on his face. “How are you?”

“Oh, he can smile,” I’m thinking to myself. “He’s not the one who is getting the check up. I try to smile and reply, “I’m just fine.”

“So you are starting first grade,” he says as he is getting the thermometer.

“Yes, sir, I am,” I say.

After checking my temperature, he tells me he will listen to my heart with an instrument called a stethoscope. He lets me listen to his heart too. It sure is a loud thumping noise. This may not be as bad as I first thought.

“Next, we will check your reflexes,” Dr. Webb tells me. He gets this small hammer-like instrument and begins to peck my knee and my leg flies out. That was sort of fun. Then he pecks my elbow and my arm flies up. I must remember to try this on my friend, Jerry.

“So how are you doing so far?” Dr. Webb asks me.

“I’m okay,” I reply.

Next he looks in my ears with an instrument with a light on it. He then checks my eyes with a light. “Everything seems to be okay there,” he says.

“Preston, did you know I could see behind your eyeball with that light?” he asks.

“Really,” I answer with a tell-me-more-about-that look.

“Yes, I can see everything is fine and you have very healthy eyes,” he tells me.

“Okay, what do we do next Dr. Webb?” I ask. I’m beginning to feel like this is not so bad after all.

“Well, Preston, we must weigh you. We will check your height and see how much you’ve grown in a year and then we will be finished with this check up,” he says.

“Are you sure that’s all you need to do? I ask.

“Preston, I must have misunderstood your mom. She said you were a little afraid of coming to see me. Is that true?” he asks.

“Dr. Webb, I was afraid because the last time I came I was sick. You gave me a shot. I don’t like shots and I thought I would get one today too,” I reply.
“Preston, we don’t give shots or any medicines when they are not needed,” he answers. “This was just a check up and check ups are necessary for getting ready for school.

“Now I know they can be fun too,” I say. “May I please use the stethoscope one more time so I can listen to my mom’s heart?” I ask with a slight grin on my face.

“Sure you can,” he answers as he hands me the stethoscope.

“I just might want to be a doctor when I grow up,” I say. “Helping sick people to get better is a fun thing.”

So now the check up is over. Mom and I are leaving the doctor’s office. I have a red ball that I got from the toy bin because I was a good patient. Next time I come for a check up, I will not be afraid. Doctors are good people.