HP 4

CHAPTER 4

“Welcome to Canada, Mr. Long” the airport attendee said as we got down from the plane, I nodded at her and kept moving with my head bent low.

I was still Anthony Long and I didn’t want anyone to associate me with this kid when I finally changed my name.

The actual truth was I had already changed my name and even my scholarship was in my new name, but I had an appointment in the court to finalize the whole process.

But all that will come after an aggressive shopping, that was not actually on my list of things to do but after Jack gave me his card I decided that I will have a new look to go with the new name.

So first of all to the hotel, then to the shopping mall and finally to the dentist, then by tomorrow I can see the judge for the final clearance.

I smiled as I flagged down a taxi and then frowned when he looked at me weird and zoomed off, I was trying to wonder what was wrong with Canada when I remembered I smiled and immediately my itinerary changed, the dentist first.

“Sir, you don’t have an appointment I can’t book you in, worse it’s impossible to get a teeth surgery on the same day you come for your appointment”, the receptionist of this dentist said.

I finally got to the dentist’s and the receptionist and I have been going at each other for some time now.

“I don’t mind, just put a call through, this is really important for me, call the dentist”, I insist, a second away from bursting through the doors.

“Look sir, there’s a whole process we follow here and_”

“Damn it, it’s important for me, I can’t have people seeing me like this and you’re making it real hard_”

“How can I help you sir?” I turned to see the person who stopped my rant, well it was a typical dentist if I have ever found one.

“I’m Luca Gaudion, sir” I said as I stretch my hands to his.

He nods and takes my hand in a firm shake, “I didn’t think you were from around here”, he says.

“Well I haven’t been here till I was small but I finally came back home since my uncle William sent an invite” I said.

Throwing out William’s name was impromptu, but at the last moment I remembered that this was Canada and if in other parts of the world his name moved people faster, how much more in Canada.

“Williams, you say?” he said rearranging his eyeglass and puffing out his chest.

“Well yes, the one and only”, I say standing straighter too.

“Well come in and tell me how I can help you”, he said leading the way to his office.

Well well, I just found my magic word, “what would you like?” the dentist asked.

“To get my teeth done at the soonest”

“Oh not that, I meant something to drink or eat” he says as he moves behind his desk.

“Well, nothing to eat, just fix this scary shit”, I say and he eyes me speculatively.

“Well you should sit over here”, he points to a bed with a weird light above it, and I move to it.

He puts on the light as I sit under and he looks into my mouth and then writes on a pad beside him, when do you want to be operated on ?” he asks.

“Today”, I say as I swallow some spit and breathe in.

“That will be too early, we need to give you drugs and injections and prep you for it, its really painful, it might take a month or more to recover fully and you will still have to wear braces”

I jump up and stare at him, “Braces?” I shout.

“Well, yes, it’s a delicate thing and it takes time to heal”, he says.

“Well, start already then, the faster the better”, I say becoming impatient.

“Well a schedule will be forwarded to you Mr. Gaudion”, the dentist says as he pulls off his gloves and I start to stalk out.

“Pay a deposit sir and make it tangible” he calls after me.

“I see you met the doctor, sir” the receptionist says standing up, “well now you have to pay a deposit, lets till see if you’re still related to Williams after you pay” she says.

I smirk at her and remove the black card and pass it to her with all the arrogance I can muster, she inhales quite shocked and lowers her eyes as she takes it.

After payment and making the necessary registrations, I walk into the busy roads and flag down another taxi, I enter and open my mouth to give him one of the popular hotels, but I shut my mouth, imagine them seeing my teeth, they can never un-see that shit and I didn’t need that kind of impression.

“I’m new in town, somewhere cheap should be good”, I say instead.

And after some minutes we arrive at this rundown excuse of a motel and I gasp, “Not here”

“Well you said cheap, it’s pretty cheap here”, he says coming down and pulling my door open, “Come down, I would hate to drag you out”, he rudely says.

“Well I’ve changed my mind, looks like I will be going to the Hotel William Gray” I say readjusting on the seat.

I look up as the driver bursts out laughing, “And who will be letting you in there, that’s one of the most expensive places we have in Canada”, he looks at me again like he is really seeing me for the first time, “don’t make me burn the fuel, I will need my payment for this trip before I embark on that journey”, he says stubbornly.

“There won’t be any tips for you sir”, I say handing him over the exact amount with no change added in.

“All I hear is poor”, he says as he enters and reverses out.

In some minutes and lots of cussing and insults we finally get to the hotel, I get down and pass the driver his money before I attempt to walk in.

“Sir, we don’t give out alms here, would you like to move ahead”, a decorated guard calls.

I turn with a growl, “How dare you assume I came for alms in here, what’s it with Canadians and the assumption that every person who isn’t dressed well is poor or a beggar”, I say as I walk into the hotel, I should have shopped first, and then gotten a car while I was at it but there will be time for all that later, I still have 7 months before I have to start school and impress the hell out of Williams Smith.