Note from the author: Total Words: 6358. Words to go: 23,642.
I wake up in a really good mood. Last night ended on a good note. I get ready for school and head to my learning pad.
To personalize my pod wallpaper, I decide on an African sunset. You know the ones with a bright orange sun and a red sky that melts in to a soft pink. There are zebras, giraffes, and lions lounging around in the long grasses. For added effect, I turn on the Lion King soundtrack. I'm a classic movie nerd.
I log in to my computer and check my daily requirements. Today I have to start reading Hope Was Here, practice the piano, and ick...monthly physicals. This one will be especially thorough since its my last one. Wow. That sounds crazy. My last month here.
Hoping to put off the doctors appointment for as long as possible, I start reading. Per usual, I get really caught up in the book and don't stop reading until lunch time.
I walk over to the cafeteria, say hi to Gus, and sit down. I eat my chicken sandwich, savoring the BBQ chips. Those are my favorite. I even convince Gus to give me a second helping. I lick all of the seasoning off my fingers, wouldn't want to waste any bit.
I walk into the music wing. Music is a really important part of Moon Academy's curriculum. They require everyone to do it for at least two years. Everyone can choose whatever instrument they want. I chose Piano.
The best choice I ever made. I love the way the crisp, soft notes pierce the silence. The piano also has a long range of emotions. You can play sad music or really happy music. You can play a funeral march or a party tune. Music is timeless and links everyone together.
I sit down on my padded piano bench and begin to play. I've been working on this one Grieg piece.It’s not too difficult note-wise, but it’s pretty hard rhythm-wise. Eventually I get it down pat.
As much as I’ve procrastinated, time has finally run out. It’s time for the doctors appointment. Honestly, I’m sure no one likes going to the doctor.
I slowly, nervously make my way down to the infirmary/hospital area. I purposely took the longest, round-about way to get here, even stopping by the bathroom to brush my teeth.
It’s one of those trips where you’re going somewhere you don’t want to go. I always imagine a rubber band being stretched. The closer you get to your destination, the tighter the band is. It feels like you should just snap back to your house. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
I hesitate for a second outside of the doctors office to collect myself. No need to make a big fool of myself like last month. I’m not going to go in to detail, but lets just say it involved me under a table thrashing around like a wild animal. Shots do not bring out a good side in me.
Dr. Mink is a really nice lady. I feel bad for overreacting every time I come to the doctors, but miraculously, she still likes me. Although I don’t know I can say the same for her inpatient nurses.
The nice thing about being on the moon is isolation from illness. Since we have a fairly stable population, I haven’t had a cold or the flu since I came here. Before new students are allowed to join us here, they have to be medically examined really thoroughly. It would be a disaster if they brought a sickness over because we’d have to transport all of the medicines by shuttle, which would be costly. Besides, no one wants a school-wide epidemic. That would be terrible.
The secretary makes me sign in on her computer. I have to give my date of birth, school ID number, and, of course, my name. She cheerfully informs me that this is my last appointment, as if I didn’t already know that. Obviously I know when my birthday is. Maybe I’m being a little too harsh on her. Nerves.
I sit in the waiting room, my legs bouncing up and down restlessly. I try to read a magazine, but give up after the words start swimming around the page. I tuck my knees up under my chin and wrap my arms around my legs. Then I start humming. I’m glad the nurse calls my name before I start full-on hyperventilating.
She leads me back into a room, tosses me a robe, and grunts that I should put it on. Like I said, the nurses don’t like me much, not that I can blame them. I put on my robe and shiver. Hospital gowns are not fashionable or particularly cozy. I sit uncomfortably on the paper-covered bench and count the floor tiles.
When I hear Dr. Mink’s telltale knock, I try to smile, or at least appear like I’m not scared out of my wits. We start with the easy stuff; I get weighed and my height is measured. Then she takes my blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate.
Next comes the bad part. I start sweating at the sight of the small, unintimidating pen. Only it’s not a pen. It’s an IDIDD.I know I said I didn’t like shots, but the truth is that I hate needles, in all forms. It’s probably why I don’t have my ears pierced. No one likes needles, but I really really really don’t like them.
I try to think rationally. The IDIDD, short for Immediately Detecting Illness and Disease Device, has a small, very tiny needle in it that will take a sample of my blood and DNA. After a short, few second delay, it spits out all kind of information. If I have any sickness in my body, it’ll know. If I am at risk of any disease, it’ll know. If my white blood cell count is low, it’ll know.
It sounds cool in theory, and I know I should be grateful for modern technology, but I don’t like how the needle is hidden in that plastic pen-like cylinder. I don’t like how it shoots out and surprises you. I don’t like it one bit. I wish Amy was here with me.
Dr. Mink asks for my hand. When I don’t give it to her, she reassures me that everything is okay. Easy for her to say, she’s not the one about to be stabbed. She reminds me that it’s better to feel a tiny pinch and avoid sickness than actually being sick. I offer her my shaking hand. She wastes no time. She puts the IDIDD on my index finger and presses the button. I feel a little poke then it’s over. “See? That wasn’t too bad,” Dr. Mink says lightly.
She’s right it wasn’t too bad. Don’t get me wrong, I won’t be doing it again anytime soon, but it wasn’t as horrifically agonizing as I had expected. Then Dr. Mink drops a bombshell on me. “So since this is your last check up before your return to earth, we have to give you lots of immunizations. Okay?” she asks. No!
“Sure, I guess,” I answer. Nice how she just slipped that information in there at the end. Sneaky.
Six shots, some Hello Kitty band-aids, two fits, and a lollipop later, I roll out of the Dr’s office like a new person. I’m glad that’s over with. Relief rolls off of me in waves.
It’s dinnertime now and worrying has made me incredibly hungry. Gus hands me my tray, loaded with a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Delish. I gobble it up and eat a large slice of coconut cream pie. Tomorrow I’m going to have to exercise. That’s fo’ sho’.
