Page 55 - San Diego Woman Amy Haber Issue

BIT CHIN & MO ANING

The DIAGNOSIS We walked through the door out
of the generic waiting room and
into a room filled with noises
foreign to my ears. He carried
By Judith A. Habert a clipboard in one hand. There
it was balanced 7 feet in the
air. All four wheels lay on the
floor. "Master cylinder and rear
brakes," he said glancing down
at his clipboard he then preced-
ed to take me on a tour of the
underside of my car pointing out
bent and damaged parts. Cold
metal meeting cold metal in ar-
eas where this wasn't supposed
to happen. I listened intently as
he rambled off automotive terms
closely resembling Latin to my
ears. I nodded, trying to appear
knowledgeable or at least con-
scious, as he continued. Then he
took the walk past three other
cars also awaiting their automo-
tive physician about to attend
he ticking was getting his ear. The gentleman took her to the door. The gentleman them. Through the door and to
louder and louder. Was hand in his and stroked it gently walked over to the couple seated the awaiting computer terminal
Tit the clock on the wall and reassuringly. She seemed to opposite me. Disappointment where he began entering code
or my heart? I glanced around respond sitting back in her chair flooded through me. The busi- numbers until it spit out an
the waiting room. It was an and glancing at the television. nessman just lowered his eyes invoice. He laid it in front of
institutional looking room Looking at it, but not reacting back to his paper and continued me on the desk reading off each
with generic gray chairs lined to the pretty young newscaster reading. The couple stood and part. My eyes drifted down to
up like wooden soldiers along telling of the latest serial killer followed the man through the the total, $675.52. I mentally
three of the four walls. On the recently apprehended. door. Was this a good sign, or a figured which bills I wouldn't be
remaining wall was a coffee To my right sat a man, bad sign? They returned sev- paying this month and reached
maker. Cups and stirrers were wearing a very expensive look- eral moments later. The woman into my bag counting to be sure
strewn carelessly alongside. ing navy blue double-breasted looked relieved. The man, less I had enough. "Go ahead," I
A television was wedged in a suit. His briefcase leaned easy to read, spoke calmly to said, "fix it."
corner. A news program blared against his leg as he proceeded his partner. "Thank goodness He disappeared back
from it, emitting more bad news to refold his Wall Street Journal, that's all it was!" She smiled and through the door and I resumed
to its captive audience seated only momentarily pausing to grabbed a cup of coffee, handing my position on the generic gray
in the waiting area. The stack check his wristwatch. A phone the man one as well. chairs. The businessman was
of magazines piled nearby was began ringing faintly apparently The businessman stood, summoned through the door.
dog-eared from being riffled somewhere in the distance. The walked to the door, and pro- When he returned moments
through by anxious readers. businessman leaned over, lifted ceeded through. I could hear later he handed the repairman
The man seated opposite his briefcase onto his lap, and his complaints about a meeting his credit card and opened up
me was graying at the temples, flipped the catch revealing a he had to attend, pleading with his briefcase dialing up his office
a magazine balanced on his lap. wallet sized cellular phone. He the gentleman at the other side. on his cell phone.
His fingers tapped upon the spoke calmly and authoritatively He sat back down glanced at The lady across from me
wooden armrest keeping time to his secretary on the other end. his watch and unfolded the gave me a slight smile and said

with the clock. The conversation was cold and paper from under his arm and "How bad was it?" "$675.52," I
The woman seated next to efficient ending with the procla- resumed reading. responded. She gave me a sym-
him was of similar age, well- mation that he had no news yet Finally, the door opened pathetic grin and leaned over to
dressed, with perfectly mani- and would call back as soon as again and he walked toward me. her partner and I heard her say,
cured fingernails, except for one he had any information. He said my name. I wrestled "See Bill, we should be glad ours
nail which she was anxiously I glanced at the clock. Was with my coat and pocketbook was only $150.00” He grabbed
biting. She leaned over towards it forty-five minutes already? The and anxiously grabbed it under her hand again and they glanced
her partner and whispered in door flew open. All eyes moved my arm. "Follow me," he said. back at the television.

55