Dr. Z

Accidentally leave Little Dorritt at home and am forced to read subway ads this morning. Become very interestedin Dr. Zizmor's ad, which now contains self test: Is your skin loose? (check yes or no) (yes) Do you have more than one chin? (yes or no) (no, knock on wood) Has your skin loss it's firmness and tightness (yes or no) (maybe--wonder if question needs to be so extreme--when it happens does it happen all at once? Do at all not care for image of sudden loss of firmness and tightness.) Do you think you look older than you should for your age? (yes or no) (Perhaps. Yesterday report for first day of work with Cindy Stevens--good looking woman, mid forties, severe black page-boy, navy suit, white shirt, bulbous silver brooch on left lapel, office extremely tidy, which makes me unreasonably nervous. Am sitting across from desk and legs hidden, so attempt to do sly stretch of right leg to try to release tension. Stretch unfortunately counter productive and suffer severe Charley Horse in right hamstring. . Kick out leg and gulp down scream. Am asked, Is something the matter? Tell her no, I am just excited about the job. Cindy Stevens appears pleased and as though I am telling the truth. Have disquieting thought that she doesn't believe me at all, but is glad that am able to lie--lying being an daily requirement in new position as--ask what new title is to be--Acting Development Associate. Do not like title--sounds like is missing a noun--but keep to self. Am shown to desk by Cindy. Desk in miniscule office, but does have window that opens to outside--view mostly of large water tower. Cindy Stevens says, So here we are. There is a pause. She asks, How have you worked her for so long. Do not quite understand. Can only ask what she means. She answers, You look like you're about twenty-two. The dean said you've been here for eight years. Feel that like Cindy very much. Tell her I am thirty-one, and thank you. Estimation of Cindy falls a bit when she take her glasses on her pocket, puts them on and says Oh yes, now she sees it.)