Trevor honked at the car in front of him. He was in no mood for morons who didn't have anything better to do than delay traffic. It wouldn't do to be late to this appointment. He was seeing a new dentist and didn't want to get started on the wrong foot. Trevor had quit the last dentist because the guy had developed a bad attitude. It was probably about a late payment; there was no other explanation for the sudden curt manner after the misunderstanding. He was sure that the dentist had deliberately skimped on the Novocain in retaliation.
There is no way to win in some situations, and Trevor had learned his lesson. Things would be different with Doctor Richards. The dental bill would be paid before anything else. It doesn't make good sense to piss off a man who is going to put a drill in your mouth.
"Oh, shit!" he said aloud as the morning traffic slowed to a stop ahead. "Trevor had taken an early appointment so the office wouldn't be running behind yet - but he hadn't allowed time for rush-hour grid-lock. Now he stood a good chance of being late to the appointment that would set the tone for his relationship with the new dentist.
Traffic crawled for four blocks and then Trevor saw the source of the slow-down. There had been a fender-bender. Two women were talking at the curb as their two cars, barely scratched, were blocking the right lane.
Trevor sneered with disdain as he pulled around the offending vehicles. He flashed his middle finger at one of the women who glanced up at him.
"Women drivers," he said to himself as he continued. He was going to be late for sure, thanks to those stupid females.
"Trevor Durant," he said, announcing himself to the receptionist. "Sorry I'm a few minutes late - traffic was backed up because of an accident."
"No problem. Dr. Richards has been delayed, too. The doctor will be with you shortly. Just take a seat please."
Trevor sighed with relief as he sat down in the waiting room. He had dodged a bullet. The dentist probably got delayed in the same traffic jam.
The nurse called him back in about fifteen minutes. Trevor smiled broadly and chatted with her, determined to ingratiate himself to the whole staff.
His demeanor changed, however, when the dentist joined them. Dr. Pat Richards had been the woman at the side of the road to whom he had made the obscene gesture. He could tell by her expression that she recognized him.
The End