“On second thought, you could stay, entertain me and tell me all about you and Black cherry.”
He cocked one eyebrow, testing his brother’s patience.
The noise that escaped Luke was much like a growl. “I’ll be outside, do us both of favor and tell the doctor everything that is wrong with you or Cara will have both of our heads.” He looked him seriously. “I mean it Jake, no tiptoeing around anything.”
“Okay, Dad.” He saluted him and then winked. “Go get her, tiger!” He said as he pretended to claw the air, mocking a tiger.
Luke looked at him, shook his head, and walked out of the exam room, mumbling to himself.
Jake listened to the door click closed and then he stared at the sterile room, kicking his legs like a five year old child. He hoped to God he didn’t have to wait long for the doctor. That was another thing on his list. Once they made you wait what seems like an eternity for your name to be called in the waiting room, they stick you in the exam room and make you wait some more for the doctor. He felt as if he was in purgatory. He looked around for something to occupy his time. The full length skeleton hanging in the corner was a contender maybe he’d take the old bones for spin around the room. He laughed out loud as he pictured Dr. Brooks walking into the room and catching him dancing with the skeleton, surely the family doctor would call his mother on that one. He looked at his watch, time was standing still it seemed, and he had left the damn snacks in the waiting room. He had an appointment with Pete in two hours, to get his latest tattoo, and if he could lay still for a couple of hours, Pete had promised him he’d manage to do it in one sitting.
Jake grabbed the stethoscope off one of the hooks next to him and put it on. He wondered if he could hear outside with the thing, maybe get something to tease Luke on. He hopped off the table and pressed the scope to the door, frowning, he couldn’t hear a blessed thing. The door opened and smacked him in the head. “Ah shit!”
Dr. Brooks eyed Jake, from the rim of his glasses. “Well, if it isn’t, little Jake Lanza. I’m surprised my office is still standing.”
Jake rubbed his head as he took Dr. Brooks in. “How you doin’ doc?” He unraveled the stethoscope from his neck and handed it over to the older man. Dr. Brooks had been their family doctor for as long as Jake could remember. He took on all the Lanza kids after their pediatrician had died, as a favor to his parents. He had gained some weight, and his pants hung under his belly. He was missing some more hair, since the last time Jake saw him, when he fell off a ladder trying to repair the broken window in his room before his parents had got home from work. He actually thought he’d be able to crazy glue the shards of glass and no one would notice. Not only did they notice, he had fallen off the ladder and broke his leg.
“What’d you do this time kid?” He said and patted the exam table, motioning for him to sit. Jake jumped on top of the table and smiled at the doc. “You’d be happy to know, none of my shenanigans are the reason I’m here.” He cocked his head to the side and grinned at the older man. “I missed you, thought I’d stop in for a visit.”
“You do realize, I’m not a woman, and your antics won’t work on me? But nonetheless I’m flattered for your attempts.” The doctor looked over his chart. “When was the last time you were here? Five years ago is that correct? No, wait. Four years ago.”
Jake shrugged his shoulders. “Hell if I know.” He sighed heavily. “My girlfriend is forcing me to come.” He laughed as he said the words and then shook his head when the doctor eyed him. “I’ve been having some anxiety.”
“You’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety.” He said as he slid his hands into his pockets and leaned against the counter, giving Jake his undivided attention.
“Well not technically, but that’s what it is, either that or I’m having panic attacks, and I think I have mono again. So if you just give me some meds, I’ll get out of your hair.” He shuddered and looked at the doctors mostly bald head. “Sorry, bad choice of words.”
“Describe your symptoms for me.” He looked at him sternly.
Jake sighed heavily, why did he suddenly feel like the walls were closing in on him? “So I get these attacks where it feels like there literally is a ton of bricks weighing on my chest. I feel like I can’t breathe. There are times when I think I’m going to die if I don’t catch my breath. I wake up in the middle of the night drenched. I mean I’ll wake up and I’m lying in a pool of sweat, the sheets get ruined and everything. And now I’m noticing sharp shooting pains in my abdomen.” He scratched his head in thought. “I think that’s it.”
Dr. Brooks nodded and jotted some things down in his chart, not looking at Jake as he spoke. “Do you ever have a fever when you’re experiencing these episodes?”
“No, not that I know of.”
“Have you lost any weight recently?”
“No.”