Senior Slump Or Comeback Of The Year

Keep Doing That

The only thing Patrick hated more than his gross pregnancy cravings were his bi-monthly visits to his obstetrician. Usually women between the forth and twenty eighth week of their pregnancy only visited the doctor once a month. But obviously Patrick was a special case. And so his doctor, Dr. Jackson, wanted to see him twice as much as she would a normal patient.

Patrick was grateful that she wanted to make sure everything was normal with his pregnancy, well as normal as it could ever be. But doctor offices always freaked him out. It didn't matter what kind of doctor it was. It was nothing personal against Dr. Jackson. He just didn't like to be poked and prodded by someone who called what they did 'practice'.

But his need to make sure his child was okay surpassed his disdain for being checked on. As a soon to be father, Patrick knew his child needs should always come first. And he's said as much to his mother on the way over. Of course she'd applauded his 'bravery' while also informing him that he was being a little melodramatic about the entire thing.

She was probably right.

Dr. Jackson was great with Patrick's boundaries. When he told her that he didn't want to be touched, she didn't touch him. When he told her that he hated being pregnant, she didn't judge him. When he cried because she only had orange flavored lollipops on her desk, she apologized and made sure to have a larger variety next time he came.

All in all, Doctor offices sucked. Dr. Jackson made the visits bearable.

"What time is it?" Patrick asked for the third time since they sat down five minutes ago.

His mother looked up from her magazine to side eye him. "It's 8:15, Patrick. Your appointment isn't for fifteen more minutes."

"Then why did you insist we leave the house so early?"

"I thought traffic would be worse."

"That's so stupid." He muttered without realizing he was going to say it out loud. "It's a Thursday morning. Since when is traffic bad on a Thursday morning?"

She lifted on eyebrow in challenge. When he didn't shrink away from his bold words, she slowly closed the magazine. Turning as best she could in the limiting chair to face him.

"Excuse me?"

Patrick rolled his eyes. "Look, don't get your pants all twisted. All I'm saying is that you rushed me out of the freaking house while I was trying make a quick snack to come here only for us to be waiting in this stupid waiting room. And now i'm annoyed and hungry."

"You're always annoyed and hungry." Her eye roll matched his.

"Well maybe this time I could have only been annoyed." He tossed the phone he'd been pretending to busy himself with into the empty chair on his other side. "You know what, mom? You don't have to come to these appointments with me since I'm so insufferable all the time. Since it literally kills you to be around me. Andy could just take me next time-"

"I didn't say that and you know that's not what my words meant." She scolded. Patrick managed to bit his tongue. "And let's not forget three weeks ago when I allowed your friend to drive you."

He focused on a spot behind her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't you give me that." She wagged a finger. But there was a smile playing around the corners of her mouth. "You convinced that poor boy to drive to two towns over for food and you missed the appointment."

Patrick met her eyes. His smile was in place. His posture more relaxed. His mother was an expert as getting his to stop his moody behavior. "I didn't realize how long it would take."