Dancing With Wyatt Randolph Gates

Dancing With Wyatt Randolph Gates

By Heather Ann Martinez

The doctor’s waiting room was sterile. There weren’t any magazines on the table. No television or music playing. There weren’t any children or toys or lollipops on the counter. The receptionist did not smile. Her chestnut hair was in a tight knot. Her hazel eyes were attached to the screen. She didn’t try to make eye contact. She didn’t even raise an eyebrow when he walked up to her side of the oval counter.

“Name, please.” She said as she adjusted her keyboard to type.

“Wyatt Gates. I’m here to see...” He started.

“Wyatt Gates? I don’t see anyone called Wyatt. What’s your date of birth?”

He told her.

“That’s not possible. That would mean?” She looked up at him startled by his stature.

“That would mean I am thirty years old but I look like I am well into my seventies.” He answered.

“You can’t really be.” She stood up and looked him in the eye. He smiled.

“Got your attention, didn’t I?” He started laughing.

She smiled but said she was not amused. He gave her his real date of birth. He was in his mid-fifties. He was tall and slender. He had a beard and mustache and long hair tied in a ponytail. He looked around the walls of the room. There weren’t any pictures. There was a scrolling marque that had a number and a waiting time across from the number.

“I still can’t find you in the system. Who is your doctor?” The receptionist asked as she scrolled through patient records.

“Dr. Marin. Dwight Marin.” He stated. He started tapping on the counter.

The receptionist said she couldn’t find a Wyatt Gates in Dr. Marin’s calendar.

“Try Wyatt Randolph Gates.” He said in a softer tone.

“Wyatt Randolph Gates. Yes, there you are. Dr. Marin is running a little behind schedule. Why don’t you have a seat in the waiting area?” The receptionist pointed to the empty chairs and barren coffee table. “I will call you when Dr. Marin is ready to see you.”

“Do you have any magazines or coffee?” He asked.

“No, Mr. Gates. We did away with magazines. We had too many complaints about there not being enough copies. We got rid of the vending machine when one of our patients kicked it to retrieve the last bag of corn chips. Many of our patients prefer the tranquility of vanilla colored walls and fewer patients in the waiting room. We are in the middle of a pandemic Mr. Wyatt. We have taken every precaution to stop the spread of germs.”

“Well, you’ve also eliminated character, humor, human interaction. I don’t know what I’m going to die from first-a virus I didn’t even know existed a year ago or you know.” He started to get emotional and coughed to cover what he was going to say. Dr. Marin told him he might have something serious brewing at the last visit. Dr. Marin told him he needed to give up eating starchy foods after ten o’clock at night. He had gained a lot of weight from the year before. Wyatt mused at the thought of exercising. He owned a stationary bicycle but never actually used it. It was still in pieces in the garage next to his golfing trophies, and baseball bats. Wyatt always thought he was like everyone else who had lived a few years into his adulthood. He enjoyed golfing with his work colleagues for a few years and got bored. He played baseball on a community league until he blew out his knee. He tried swimming at the local “Y” but didn’t like driving there in the icy cold winter months.

So, Wyatt waited in the quiet waiting room. He tapped his foot until the receptionist asked him to stop. The receptionist asked him to readjust his face covering as it was starting to droop on one side. Wyatt realized the string that wrapped the mask around his ear was starting to unravel. He tried to retie it but only made it worse. He decided to hold the mask with one hand. A tear fell from his eye and landed on the floor. He didn’t bother to make eye contact or try to wipe it up. He sat, arms folded over his chest. He knew that if he had what Dr. Marin thought he might, there would be no use in trying to prevent getting a virus that no one had a vaccination for. He’d be at death’s door anyway. He thought it wasn’t worth it, and started to stand up when he heard his name.

“Wyatt?”

Wyatt looked at the woman sitting diagonally from him. She removed her face covering for a second and retied it. She had sat down shortly after Wyatt. He was frustrated with trying to keep his face covering on that he had not noticed the woman who had brought a book with her. Wyatt recognized her.

“Lilly?”

“Oh my goodness. I thought that was you. You haven’t changed a bit. The years have been good to you, Wyatt.” She laughed.

“The years have been kind to you Lilly. You haven’t aged a day. What has it been? Fifteen years since our last college reunion? Gosh, I remember when we used to climb trees by the creek when we were seven. ”

“Well, I don’t think my granddaughter would agree with you. She’s always quick to point out a new wrinkle or grey hair. Wow! I haven’t thought about the creek since my son was born. Did you ever?”

“No, Lilly. We never had children. Jane died in a car accident a few years back. I retired last year.”

“I am so sorry. I didn’t know Jane passed away. I can’t imagine you being retired. You were always chasing a story. Even in college. You always said you couldn’t sleep until you put the paper to bed. You were always such a go-getter.”

“Yeah, I was. I was definitely driven. I didn’t let anything get in my way.” Wyatt’s voice trailed off as he put his head down.

“So, what are you here for?” Lilly asked.

“Don’t know for sure but it didn’t look good the last time Dr. Marin called me down here.” Wyatt said. His mask was hanging on one ear at this point. Wyatt crossed his legs.

“Oh, well. You aren’t going in to see the doctor by yourself, are you?” Lilly asked.

“Of course, I am.” Wyatt said. “What are you in here for Lilly?”

“I’m not sure either. Dr. Marin didn’t want to tell me over the phone. Do you remember my brother Vern? He died a few months ago. They said it could be genetic. My son was supposed to come with me today but he came down with a head cold this morning.”

Wyatt looked at her and reached out a hand. Lilly reached hers out too both knowing they were still too far to touch. The receptionist looked at them and pretended to clear her throat.

“I think we are upsetting the warden.” Lilly said. “We are breaking a social distancing rule.”

“They’re going to have to throw us in jail and toss the keys!” Wyatt laughed.

Lilly laughed.

“Why don’t we go in together?” Lilly asked.

“Then we’d really be breaking all the rules!” Wyatt laughed harder.

“Wouldn’t be the first time. Do you remember our junior prom dance?” Lilly countered.

“Yeah, wait. You were talking with Jane and I was talking with Vern and the guys across the room. Jane wore that purple dress and I was trying to work up the nerve to ask her to dance. That’s when you came up to me and asked me to dance. You and I danced the rest of the night. I must have talked your ear off about how much I wanted to ask Jane out.”

Wyatt stood up and extended his hand to Lilly.

“What, here, now? There isn’t any music.” Lilly said. She stood up and took Wyatt’s hand and they started swaying. Wyatt hummed a familiar tune near Lilly’s ear.

“I never saw you Lilly, and you were right in front of me. I am so sorry I couldn’t be there for you then. I can be now.” Wyatt continued to hum.

Wyatt’s number was called. Then Lilly’s number was called.

Wyatt continued to hum and Lilly joined in.