The Doctor and His Patient

Funny meeting you here today.

The accident coming out of the toll booth could’ve been much worse. As the Daltons company truck accelerated from the far left lane, it began merging into the right three lanes. Unfortunately, the next lane over was already occupied by a red Civic. The truck crunched the corner of the car and continued bringing the car around his truck. The car ended up under the truck near the wheels of the front of the trailer, which is when the trucker realized what was happening.

The Civic driver got out and stumbled around, dazed at the impact of the deployed air bag and him being in a very unfamiliar setting.

Cars on the other side of the concrete-divided highway were slowing down to watch the accident unfold. The drivers going the same direction were frustrated because they were now being held up by two vehicles blocking the left lanes.

The Civic driver, Ray Tandem, walked around the vehicle to survey the damages. He wasn’t going anywhere because the entire front end was one large V. The rear of the driver’s side didn’t fare better either.

Already he could hear the distant sirens of emergency vehicles. 

Within minutes after arriving on the scene, the ambulance drivers were questioning him about pain and whether he wanted to go to the emergency room to get checked out, just in case. Tandem refused.

After the tow driver secured the totaled car on his truck, Ray rode with the tow driver to the junk yard and called his wife to pick him up.

After Tandem was home for a few hours, the aches and pains started surfacing, so he decided to get checked out.

Dr. Mendoza had an opening after lunch.

At the doctor’s office, Ray filled out a mound of paperwork and the nurse took his vitals. The doctor was now ready to see Tandem.

“So, tell me, Ray,” Dr. Mendoza said. “What brings you in today?”

“Well, I was in an early morning accident today on the tollway.”

The doctor squinted and said, “Were you headed northbound. Red car, Civic or Corolla maybe and that bright red Daltons semi?”

“Yeah, yeah, Civic, that was it. All kind of a blur still. How, how’d you know?”

“I was going southbound. Saw it in real time. Said a prayer because I saw you slam into that truck. Wow! Glad you came in today. Based on what I saw, I’m very glad you came in today.”