Dr. Reed slid the thermometer from between Judy's bottom cheeks and read it."101.2. You do have a fever and I believe a strep throat. I'm going to give you a shot of penicillin Judy. You should be feeling better by later tomorrow."

"Do I really need one Doctor? Can't you just give me some pills?"

"The injection will be more effective Judy" he said as he turned to the small refrigerator under the counter. "You just stay where you are. This needs to go in your bottom." He took from the refrigerator a tube of white almost cottony-appearing substance with a long needle attached inside a blue sheath. He picked up a silver cylinder and slid the tube from the fridge inside it. He moved the finger guards to their top position making clear this was a syringe. He took a cotton ball that smelled like alcohol from a glass container and turned back to the patient. He wiped the upper, outer quadrant of her right cheek with the alcohol before saying "This is going to bite Judy. Hang on." He pressed the needle in the full 2 inches and began depressing the plunger.

"Ow..ow..ow" she howled. "Please stop!"

"We're almost done" he said. "Hang on." He glanced at her face and noticed tears forming.

"All done." He slid the needle out and set it aside. "I'm sorry that hurts so much."

"It aches like hell!" she blurted out.

"Just stay like you are Judy. You're doing great. I'm just going to give you a suppository that will help you feel better more quickly." He reached again into the fridge and pulled out a foil wrapped cylinder, pointy at one end and blunt at the other. The doctor pulled on a latex exam glove to his right hand and unwrapped the suppository. "Have you had a suppository before?"

"Yes, lots when I was a kid. My husband sometimes gives me one when I'm constipated. Go ahead."

The doctor wiped a bit of lube on the index finger. He took the suppository with his thumb at the back and spread Judy's bottom cheeks once again, exposing her pink hole. He placed the pointed end of the suppository at her anus and pressed till it was in. Then switching to his index finger at the base he pressed it into her rectum as far as his finger would reach and held it there for several seconds before withdrawing it.

"Okay, all done Judy. I'm sorry that was uncomfortable but you'll be feeling better by tomorrow. I'm going to step out. You can take as much time as you need to get yourself together. Then see Lynn on your way out to get a follow up appointment. You can call anytime if things don't keep improving."

Dr. Reed stripped off the glove, dropped it in the trash and stepped out the door. He walked up to the front desk where Lynn was sheepishly sitting. "Set her up for a follow up visit in 3 days please. Then I'll see you in my office for your correction."