Finally, the doctor came out… „Who’s next?” he asked, then waved me in with a single move. It wasn’t a kind move, more like a railway signal turning green. I could go in. From then on I didn’t see him. An assistant told me the doctor’s message was that Jos would decide what to do with him. Actually, I did see this ‘doctor once more. He walked past me and said hello, loudly and completely unnecessarily. OK. I understood everything. I didn’t notice that when I went in, he expected me to look at him politely and give him a nice, loud greeting. And I, a flawed human, was busy with my cat… and not with the fact that when he looked out into the waiting room at the start of the hours, „presumably” looking around at everyone, he assured the public of his humility and the feeling of honor that we chose him – well, no.

The office opens at nine. Since half past eight, we usually discuss many things by the time the door of the big-shots opens. Today I met a little dormouse and his adventure. „And him?” – the usual question came up. „What’s the story with you guys?” Today, an incredibly cheerful lady told me how it happened…

Once upon a time, there was a little dormouse. He was born among high forests, near small houses. Little dormice often play on the walls of houses, but for him, that wasn't enough. He thought it would be fun – despite his parents' warnings – to peek into the glowing rooms of the house. He knew he was clever, no one would notice anyway. The trouble started when he suddenly found himself between two glass panes. He fell in. His life changed fundamentally. Instead of the forest, he got a three-story palace, which later turned into a winter garden complex made of branches and shoelaces – providing him with supplies and safety, filled with all kinds of earthly goods. In the beginning, he was fed with baby food... and worthy of this, his friends from then on became humans.
/04.24. Waiting Room's first tale/

But many people don’t come this early because they don’t like him, the hyper-ego doctor. Now, I don’t either. Not because he lectured me, but because I think that not just as a human should he see the soul behind the actions, but as a vet, it is his absolute duty to consider whether a little kitten will spend 6 hours in a box because of him, in a way that she’ll eventually pee himself.

He doesn’t see this yet, he’s still blind to it. He has a little dove, it’s very cute. Once he said it was his wife. Well, after this, I’m not surprised. Anyway, I feel sorry for him. I’m sure he feels that in this clinic, he can only be second best. It’s probably true, no matter how much he knows – I just think the reason isn’t what he thinks it is.

Joseph doesn’t talk back, Joseph doesn’t demand. Or wait, I think he does expect you to respect your pet enough to put time and energy into it. Cook for it, take care of it – and yeah, take care of yourself and your own hygiene too. He bows his head before your struggle. The clinic is like a chapel. You who enter here, forget space and time. Entrust yourself to fate, trust and hope.

Today there was no ego doctor, we got into the infusion room quickly. Peace still reigned there, unlike in my soul right now. Mirci submissively took the treatment. A small cannula in her small arm, full of all kinds of fluids. She was also listening to the story:

The little terrier is preparing for great adventures. In the coming days, he’ll put on big boots and start something very important. There will be a few days in his life that are only about him. When they cry for him and laugh with him. When he can eat his favorite foods and no matter how cold it gets, he can go for a swim in the Danube.
/04.24. The Bucket List/

The cruel fairy tale of life. Now Mirci isn’t eating again, and again I don’t know what I did wrong, what I could do for her. We’re almost daily guests at the clinic in Family Street.