A Painful Visit

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 131, 27 February 1937, Page 27

A Painful Visit

Wearily I trudged up the street, and still more wearily glanced up at the windows of the dreaded place, upon which was written the word :— DENTIST. I pulled myself up the carpeted stairway with a sigh, and arrived at the door of the waiting-room. Witli a smile from the white-capped nurse I went in. took a magazine from the table and sat by the open window to enjoy a good read. No sooner was I seated when I was asked by the nurse to “Cqjne right through,” and she led the way into the extraction room. I sat on the chair and waited while the nurse put a small towel round my neck, and then I was left alone to gaze at my surroundings. There were numerous drawers and shelves, and upon one of the latter was a big bottle half full of crimson liquid, and on a red label in white letters was the dreaded word: POISON. On another shelf was a skeleton’s head, and the jaw of a pig. each showing two layers of white teeth. In a cupboard with glass doors were the dentist’s implements. On one side of me was the drill —Oh, how I would have loved to knock the nasty thing over, but I had no time to do anything like that, for in marched Mr. -—-, and with a cheery “Hullo, Rusty!” (he calls me that because my nose is peeling), and, “Open your mouth wide,” he began the “torture.” It wasn’t really torture because Mr. never hurts if he can help it. I sat there thinking myself a heroine for keeping so still when he drilled on the nerve. Then giving my nose a (week ho said. “Well, when can you come again. Rusty?" After fixing the time I hurried off as quickly as T could In case be would ask me to stay a little longer.

—Original, Phyllis Aldridge (12), Karaka Bay.