Carl was lying on the table, face down and looking through a hole. He was ready. His whole life, he had been ready. He was ready when they called him up for Nam. He was ready when he got the job at the steel mill. He was ready when he walked down the aisle. He was even ready when Judy and the kids left him. He was ready to face whatever came his way and he was ready now. Well, sort of.

The minute the door opened, he jumped up to see Dr. Paul. He was in a long white doctor's coat and smiling from ear to ear.

"Carl?"

"Sorry Doctor Paul. I'm a bit nervous I guess."

"It is okay, Carl. Everyone's nervous for their first adjustment. But trust me, when it's over, you'll feel so good."

"Oh, okay." Carl proceeded to lie back down on the bed.

"How have you been lately?" Dr. Paul asked him.

"Me? Well you know, Doctor Paul. I can't complain. And it wouldn't really help if I did."

"I know what you mean, Carl." He started working with Carl's back.

"Wow, you're right doc. This ain't painful at all."

"I'm just looking for the spot Carl. Now relax."

Paul used his strong hands to twist and push in just the 'right' spots in Carl's shoulders, neck and back.

Carl winced a little and held his breath.

"Breathe out Carl."

Carl breathed out as Paul pushed on the areas a little more and then there was a 'crack, craack, carack' in Carl's spine.

Carl laid there for a few seconds.

"Okay."

"Okay? That's it?"

"That's it Carl. You can get up."

Carl stood up and moved around to feel Doctor Paul's handiwork.

"Wow! That's amazing."

Paul smiled at him. "Can you come back on Monday?"

"Today's only Saturday," Carl said to him.

"I know. You need to come in for 3 days a week at first, remember?"

"Oh yeah; I forgot," Carl explained. "Hey doc, How's that kid of yours? What's his name?"

"Grant."

"Oh yeah, Grant. How's he doing at school?"

"Well, you can ask him yourself. I think I heard him in the waiting room just now."

"He's here?"

"Yeah, you're my last appointment. I only work till 12 on Saturdays. His Grandparents and I are taking him out for his birthday."

"It's his birthday? How old is he now?"

"I don't really want to say. It's not easy to admit I have a 22 year old kid."

"I know what you mean," Carl said. "My Grace is 35. Can you believe it?"

"Wow. How is she doing?"

"Getting along great," Carl told him. "She has three kids and the oldest is going to be a senior next year."

"Time goes too quick Carl."

"Yep; well have a good time Doc," he said on his way out.

"Thanks Carl. See you Monday."