Chapter 37

The trip to Denver didn’t take all that long. Since I still had the damn neck brace on, Martha decided she’d go along. We left early; the sun was just peeking over the horizon when we pulled onto highway 34 in Otis. Years ago, before they built I-76, the trip to Denver would have taken a good two hours. Now, once you reached the interstate, it was a quick drive. We were in the city before the offices opened. We didn’t have much in the way of food before we left, so Martha and I found a café on 16th Street and had breakfast.

We were waiting when they opened the office building at nine and were the first ones in the pension office. Heeding Fancy’s advice, I didn’t fill out anything there, but did make sure I had duplicates of all the forms with the instructions. By ten, Martha and I were on the road again.

I had an appointment with the doctor in Akron at 11:30, and we made it in plenty of time. It was a nice clear day, and Martha seemed to enjoy the drive; she always seemed to enjoy car rides.

When we pulled into the parking lot at the doctor’s office, I could see that little yellow car Martha had been teasing Elizabeth about. It looked rather funny, out of place somehow. In a place where most folks drove pickup trucks, it sure stood out like a sore thumb.

We were a bit early for our appointment, and the receptionist had us take a seat in the waiting area. In no time, a young man came to take my blood pressure. I followed him to a room down the hall and was soon back sitting beside Martha.

As I looked around the room and listened in as the gal behind the reception desk answered the phone, it became apparent that several doctors shared this office. I figured it was probably a lot more economical to share expenses than try and maintain your own office.

I chuckled to myself, thinking of the last time I’d seen a doctor before my accident. Martha nudged me with her elbow, asking, “What’s so funny?”

“I was just remembering how old Doc Williams’ office looked and comparing it to this one.” Martha burst out laughing, and the receptionist gave her a funny look. I guess she wasn’t used to too many people laughing in a doctor’s office.

I could understand why Martha was laughing. Old Doc Williams was a bit old-fashioned. His office was in an old building, just down the street from here. To me, that was what a doctor’s office should have looked like. It was a no-nonsense building that was built for function, not beauty.

Hell, he must have been 85 when he finally retired. “That was what, maybe ten years ago?” I asked Martha. Martha finally stopped laughing. “Something like that, I guess. You know, if Doc Williams were still around, he’d probably have you in traction in a hospital bed!” “No doubt,” I answered.

Dr. Harley must have entered the room while Martha and I were reminiscing. “Now, what’s so funny that my favorite patient from Otis and his lovely wife are laughing in a doctor’s office? People usually come here in a rather somber mood.”

Martha answered, “We were just talking about old Doc Williams and how he would probably have had Marcus trussed up like a calf for branding.”

The doctor gave Martha a questioning look and then said, “I don’t believe I’ve ever met him.” “No,” I answered. “I don’t expect you have. He died about six years ago.” I also realized that Dr. Harley was probably not raised around here. Least ways, I don’t remember him as a kid.

The doctor nodded his head and then said, “Sorry to hear that. Now, how about we take a look at how your neck is doing?”