The Check-Up by Dale Neill

Dr Richardson stretched her tape around Toby O’Leary’s girth.

‘106 cms.’

She checked her notes from a month before. 

‘That’s 2 cms less. Well done.’

It had been a year of monthy visits to his new doctor. Suffering from middle-aged spread, elevated blood pressure and a frozen shoulder Toby had decided it was time to do something about it. In his youthful years Toby had cut quite a dashing figure, swimming every morning at the beach and playing pennant tennis during the season. He had risen to the lofty heights as Curator of Visual Communications at the WA Art Gallery. 

But at 51 years of age Toby was no longer a dashing figure. His marriage was predictable for two academics. The pressures of work, family and responsibilities had ground him down. He was over-anxious, drinking too much and had let his body go. Toby was a typical middle-aged mishap.

Dr Kate Richardson had been recommended by a friend as someone who was thorough, pro-active and took her time. She took her job seriously. She had started by ordering series of blood tests for Toby. High blood pressure and elevated cholesterol required Toby to take medication to treat the immediate issue. However, Dr Richardson recommended a change of diet, regular exercise and monthly visits to bring about a change in lifestyle.

At first Toby was more than a little nervous about visiting a female doctor. ‘What if she asked personal questions or wanted to do a digital examination’ he thought.  But gradually Toby started to relax during the monthly visits. He realized Dr Richardson was a professional and genuinely concerned in his long term welfare. Her soft gentle appearance belied her tough approach. Twice now she had delivered a ‘shape up or ship out’ mini lecture to Toby. ‘No more than one drink a day, that’s it’ she said, and ‘I’m measuring your tummy and blood pressure on every visit’. But she always said it with a smile.

Dr Richardson herself set a good example. She was slim, believed in natural methods and self healing. Despite being in an up market medical centre Dr Richardson looked more like a child care worker. She mostly wore modest t shirts and skirt or soft pants. She wore little or no make-up and was quite unremarkable except for her bee-stung lips. Her lawyer husband referred to them as ‘Mick Jagger’ lips. Dr Richardson and her husband were diametric opposites. Her husband Silas was the sharpest dressed lawyer from the right end of The Terrace.  Cardin suits, bow ties and dark cravats for after hours were all part of Silas' $5,000 a day image. He was a performer first and lawyer second. 

‘Sorry I’m running late’ Dr Richardson greeted Toby at the surgery door. ‘It’s been a busy morning’. She said the same thing every time. 

This was visit No 12; it had been a year since Toby started visiting Dr Richardson. He had lost 6 kg and his waist had trimmed by 5 cms. Dr Richardson was reasonably pleased. Toby was even more pleased. He had even bought new jeans for his slimmer waist.

Dr Richardson checked her computer screen for an update on his blood tests. All seemed good.

‘Relax, really relax while I take your blood pressure’. Toby did his best to relax. He was getting better at it but there was something about Dr Richardson that meant he could not quite relax. A certain unexplained tension.

‘’130 over 85, that’s looking better Toby’ she smiled.

‘Ok, shirt off and lay down on the bench’ she instructed.

She pored over Toby’s chest, stethoscope in her ears listening intently to his heartbeat. She placed the sensor on his upper right chest then his left. She noted quietly that every fourth heartbeat seemed 'flat'.

‘Take a deep breath’ she said ‘And again’.

They made fleeting eye contact.

Dr Richardson removed the stethoscope.

‘Its not working properly, someone else has used it I think.

‘Lay still and relax’ she said, and she placed her right ear on Toby’s chest and listened. She moved her face closer to his. Their eyes met again. Dr Richardson's face was close, warm and inviting. Toby arched his head up to kiss her lips. Her eyes closed and her lips parted slightly. As their lips met there was warm, blissful silence. The kiss was long and soft and sensuous. Toby had never tasted a mouth so soft and sensuous before. As their lips parted Dr Richardson moved her head back just a little and smiled

‘And about time too’ she whispered through a half-smile.

Dr Richardson was excited about showing Toby her minimalist design house, festooned with original art works. Her husband was neither surprised nor upset by her announcement that she was leaving him to be with Toby. But for Toby, his mind was racing. The colour and speed was whirling in his mind. That first kiss was so powerful, so sensuous. It had changed his life. A dream come true. Telling his wife had been difficult. She was possessive and vindictive and threw his belongings on the footpath in front of the art gallery where he worked. He had been humiliated but it was worth it.

The flurry of colour, exuberance and sensuality was overpowering. As the mist slowly cleared, Toby slowly focused on two nurses standing above him. ‘Welcome back Mr O’Leary, how are you feeling?

‘Uh, Ok’ he said.

Toby scanned his hospital room. He wasn't connected to any wires or tubes. There were no electronic monitors. Where was he? What had happened?

A second nurse smiled  

‘Dr Richardson will be here to see you soon. She’s just gone to get a replacement stethoscope. You’re just feeling the effects of the anaesthetic.’

Toby sipped his cup of tea and layed back mid way between a  state of euphoria and confusion. His head swam with memories or were they simply dreams.

Dr Richardson bounced into his room five minutes later. Every tome she walked it was with energy and bounce.  ‘How are we feeling now?’ she asked, smiling. 

‘I’m fine. I feel good'

What did you give me?’ Toby asked.

‘That’s the effects of the anaesthetic. You’ll be a little light headed for 24 hours. We gave you some midazolam. It’s a good anesthetic but you shouldn’t drive or make any major decisions for 24 hours. Midazolam has two side effects – a feeling of floating and euphoria and amnesia. You aren’t able to recall the procedure. Other than you’ll be fine and I’ll see you in a  month.’ She patted his shoulder, turned and left the room.

Toby’s wife drove him home. He was feeling melancholy - light headed and with warm feeling after his colonoscopy. He was confused. Thank God it was all just a dream. 

Toby went to the toilet and peed. He washed hands and glanced up into the mirror. He looked a little drawn but otherwise relaxed. Not bad for a 51 year old he thought. He put his hands up to his face, rubbed his eyes, then his mouth with his fingers. He looked down. It was then he noticed a smudge of lipstick on the inside of his index finger. His fourth heartbeat felt normal.

‘I was born when you kissed me

I died when you left me.

I lived for a few minutes while you loved me’