Pretty in Plastic || Parker & Mordecai

Mordecai printed out the website’s information page and headed for the door. Abe bounded up, tail wagging fiercely, but Mordecai pushed him away with one foot while he shrugged his coat on.

“Sorry, pal,” he said, scratching his dog’s head. “No dogs allowed, this time.” He slipped around Abe, lifted his keys from the hook and left, shutting the door behind him. Abe’s doleful bark was lost on Mordecai as he tried to be invisible, unaware of the idea that no one else knew where he was going.

The traffic was even worse. As Mordecai turned down side streets and took the off-lane in the freeway, he had convinced himself of the judgmental stares of other drivers, criticizing his destination. 

When he parked his car and sneaked into the office, like on a covert mission, Mordecai’s consciousness had him feeling awfully harassed. Jesus, Humanity, I’m just visiting a doctor. What business is it if yours what it’s for? You don’t even know my story. Suck it. Mordecai tucked these thoughts away and plastered on a weak smile as he approached the counter, where a very pretty secretary was fiddling with a notepad. She looked up at him and her eyebrows raised.

“Are you here for the two o’clock?” she asked, dropping the notepad and swiveling sideways to face her computer. Mordecai nodded mutely, and the girl set about clicking and typing. “Mordecai Berlin?” He nodded again, and she smiled faintly. “Doctor Campbell will be out, shortly.”

Mordecai took the seat closest to the door that led to rooms beyond, lest he be forced to walk the gauntlet amongst these completely ordinary-looking people. He gave the waiting room’s inhabitants a cursory once-over, and found they were all doing the same. Judging each other and themselves for sitting in a cosmetic surgeon’s lounge, waiting to be told what was wrong with their bodies and all thinking the same thing; why are they here? They look fine.