The Man in White

“This’ll be fun,” she told me as she strapped me into the car seat.

I could tell from the falsely bright tone in her voice that it wouldn’t be but I was trapped. I watched the shadows and sunlight dance around the car while we drove, wondering what foul torture awaited me. We arrived at what she called ‘the office.’ I was lifted from the seat and she carried me in through the glass door, allowing me no opportunity for escape.

A corpulent man in white met us as we topped the stairs. Finally, she released me, allowing me to stand on my own, but keeping a vice grip on my hand so that my chances of escape were minimal.

“How’s it going, little guy?” he asked me. He knelt down and bestowed a benevolent smile, but clearly this was my adversary.

I tried to hide behind her leg, but it was no use.

“He’s just shy,” she smiled at him, and lowered her voice. “He’s kind of a wriggler, you understand, so maybe it’d be better if you could strap him down or something? You know, so he doesn’t hurt himself?”

The man’s smile widened as he nodded.

“That won’t be a problem, Ma’am,” he answered. She transferred my hand to his. Her grip had been tight but his was a million times worse. My poor hand throbbed as we walked down the hallway to the open door at the end.

“Don’t worry buddy,” he looked down at me, still with that grim smile. “This won’t hurt a bit.”

I told myself not to show fear but I couldn’t help shuddering. The doorway loomed closer and closer.

Before I knew it, I was in the dreaded room. All I could see were fearsome metal contraptions and sharp tools. While I looked around, the man in white hoisted me into the large white chair and my eyes widened in terror as he strapped my hands to the seat.

“Open wide,” he told me, as he lowered the seat.

I knew not for what nefarious purposes I had been brought to this place, but I began to get an idea as he put on gloves and reached for the painfully sharp metal instruments.

I wriggled my arms, trying to get free as he reached his fingers into my mouth, poking and jabbing with the devices, touching my teeth with course, invasive fingers.

“Hold still, little fella,” he muttered under his breath.

Luckily, the straps had not been tightened and with a bit more squirming I was able to free my arms.

I bit down hard as I raised my arms, scoring a hit in his eye. I didn’t stop to see if I had drawn blood, knowing that I had only a few moments to escape.

I bolted from the room, running down the hallway as fast as my short legs would carry me. Finally, I was onto the stairs. I must hurry, for I knew that the man in white was directly behind me. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I knew I must find a way to push the glass door open.

I shoved with all my might, but the weight was too much for me and I knew I was trapped. With a resigned sigh, I turned to face my enemies. I knew they would take me but I would not let them win without a fight. As the man in white tumbled down the stairs behind me, I raised my fists and prepared myself for battle.