I looked at my watch and realized that it had been almost 25 minutes since we checked in at the front desk. It was beginning to look like this doctor’s office was just like all the others – they all want you to arrive early, but then they make you wait long past your appointment time. Our appointment was at 8:30 in the morning, so it’s hard to believe that they’re already running behind schedule.

“I sure hope they call me back soon,” Jim said. “I’m already tired of waiting.”

“I know, dear,” I replied, “I am, too.”

My name is Mandy, and Jim is my dear husband. Jim is here to receive a life insurance physical. And me, well, I guess you could say that I’m here for moral support. You see, we’ve been married for about five years now, and we recently decided that it was time for Jim to take out a life insurance policy. He’s a very responsible guy, and I think he wanted to make sure I would be all right financially if anything ever happened to him. For the most part, it was his idea, but I thought it made sense.

Jim signed up for a fairly substantial life insurance policy – the kind that requires a physical exam. Not just one of those simple exams that are done at your own home by a paramedic technician. This policy requires a full physical exam, and that’s why Jim is here today.

I came along for two reasons. First, Jim is not really that fond of doctors. He will do just about anything to avoid going to one. He had a full physical around the time we got married, and I nagged him to have another one about two years ago, but he absolutely hates the thought of seeing the doctor, especially for a physical exam. So when he found out that the policy that he wanted required a physical, he almost canceled the application. But I was able to change his mind.

I said there were two reasons for my presence here. The second reason is that I absolutely love medical exams. I look forward to my annual exam with my gynecologist each year. I guess you could say that I have a bit of a medical fetish. Not only do I enjoy receiving an exam myself, I love thinking about my dear husband receiving one as well. On the two occasions when Jim did have a physical, it was all I could think about for days. I barraged him with questions about the exam. What did the doctor do? How far did he have to undress? What did it feel like? Was he embarrassed at all? All sorts of questions like that. I wanted to hear about every last detail of his exam – and I wished that I could have been there myself to watch.

So as long as I was accompanying Jim to the office, I offered to go the extra mile and come back with him to the exam room – just for moral support, of course. He didn’t agree at first. It took just a bit of convincing on my part. I explained to him that since he is usually nervous at the doctor’s office, it might be better for me to come along and help answer any questions. And I also explained to him that watching his exam would make me extremely hot. Jim knows that I have a thing for medical exams, even though we don’t incorporate it into our own play. He finally agreed to let me watch his exam when I promised to make it worth his while afterward! And so here we are, waiting to be called back for his physical.

It is a very busy office and there seems to be a constant flow of new patients arriving and checking in at the front desk. From our seat in the waiting room, we can hear most of the conversations as new patients check in.

“It sounds like everyone is here for a complete physical,” Jim said.

“It sure does,” I replied, “but that makes sense since it is their specialty.”

I handed Jim the pamphlet that I read when we first arrived. It was a one-page sheet that described the office and their medical practice. They described themselves as a multi-specialty occupational medicine practice that specialized in workman’s compensation cases and life insurance examinations.

“Oh, that explains it then,” he said as he took a quick look at the pamphlet. “I guess they should be pretty good at it if all they do is physicals,” he continued. “I wonder if the exam will be any different than what I’ve had in the past?”

“I’m not sure, dear,” I replied, as I reassuringly took his hand in mine. “I’m sure it will be nothing at all. You’ll do just fine.” I’m sure part of Jim’s apprehension was due to the fact that he’d never been to this doctor’s office before. In fact, neither of us had ever heard of this place until we received a letter from the insurance company. The letter simply provided Jim with the office location and told him when to arrive. It didn’t even name the doctor that he would be seeing, so I assumed he’d just see the next one that was available. It also said that Jim should be fasting, so that’s probably another reason why he’s a bit cranky this morning.

Just then the inner door to the waiting room opened. “Daniel Schneider,” called a young twenty-something nurse as she entered the waiting room.

“Right here,” replied a young man sitting across from us. Jim and I both watched him as he got up to follow the nurse out of the waiting room. He was younger than us, probably in his mid-twenties and looked like he worked out all the time. You could see that he had muscular arms and a nice muscular chest as he walked past us. Once he passed us, we had a nice view of his backside which was clothed in appropriately tight and well-fitting jeans.

“My, my,” I whispered to Jim, “he sure looks healthy. I wonder if they’ll let me watch his exam instead of yours.”

Jim looked at me and frowned. “Stop that, Mandy,” he said. “You should just be happy that I’m letting you come back with me.”

“I’m sorry, dear,” I whispered in reply. “I am really looking forward to watching your exam. But, you know, I just can’t help myself. I can’t help wondering what the doctor will be doing to that nice young man in just a few minutes. I’m just dying to see my very first male physical exam.”

“Well, if everything goes according to plan, you’ll get to see for yourself in a few minutes,” said Jim in response.

The inner door opened again and a much older nurse entered the waiting room. “James Johnson,” she called.

“Well, that’s us,” Jim said as he stood up and walked toward the nurse. I got up and followed a few steps behind Jim.

“Can I help you?” asked the nurse as she saw me standing next to Jim.

“I’m Jim’s wife, Mandy,” I answered. “I’m coming back with him.”

“Oh, are you sure that's all right with you, Mr. Johnson?” she asked, turning toward Jim.

“Yes, that’s right. I’d like my wife to come back with me,” he replied.

“Very well. Please follow me,” said the nurse.

We follow the nurse down a short hallway and then turn the corner into a much longer hallway. As we walked down the hallway, we passed exam rooms on both sides. Some of the doors are still open and the rooms are unoccupied; some have the door open and fully-clothed patients sitting on the exam tables. Still others have a closed door.

We stop at an exam room about halfway down the hallway and the nurse instructs us to enter. It’s a very large exam room, larger than I’ve ever been in before. It has the typical setup of a padded, adjustable exam table in the middle of the room, a counter and sink positioned on one side of the room, and a couple of cheap plastic chairs on the other side. The room is equipped with its own scale and eye chart, and there is also an adjustable light that is attached to the ceiling directly above the exam table. Next to the scale I noticed a set of portable wooden stairs. One unusual feature of the room is that it is equipped with its own toilet located at the far end of the room. It seems as though the room is equipped with everything that they need to complete an exam without going to another room.

“Please have a seat on the exam table, Mr. Johnson,” ordered the nurse. “And you can have a seat right here,” she said to me, pointing to the plastic chairs.

I sat down while Jim climbed aboard the exam table. I could tell by the look on his face that he was starting to get nervous.

“I’m Nurse Wilson -- Caroline Wilson,” said the nurse, “and I’ll be completing the preliminary part of your exam today. You've been assigned to Nurse Goodell who will complete the hands-on portion of the exam. You’re here for an insurance physical today, is that correct, Mr. Johnson?”

Jim responded, “Yes, that’s right.”

“All right then. I see that you already completed the medical history forms and I've got a copy of your identification that you provided when you checked in. We're very careful about checking identification here. You wouldn't believe how often we catch someone trying to cheat on an insurance physical. I also have the paperwork that was sent over by your insurance company," she added. "Each insurance company requires a slightly different exam, so give me a minute to look over their forms and familiarize myself with what they require."

Nurse Wilson stood at the counter reviewing the paperwork and making a few notes in Jim's chart. She seemed to be fairly old -- in her late 50s if I had to guess. She had a medium build with dark hair and appeared to be in good shape. From her demeanor, you got the feeling that she was all business -- she was in control and she knew it. But she seemed pleasant enough.

I looked up at Jim and gave him a reassuring smile. He smiled back, but looked very nervous.

As she continued to read the insurance paperwork, Nurse Wilson addressed Jim. "My, my. You must have applied for a fairly large insurance policy, Mr. Johnson."

"It's substantial, but I don't think it is excessive," answered Jim. "Why do you say that?"

"Well," continued the nurse, "based on the forms that they sent us, your insurance company wants a very thorough exam." At that moment, I saw Jim's face turn pale as if all of the blood had run out of it.

"But, you have just a standard exam that you perform for everyone, right?" Jim asked.

"Well, no, I'm afraid not, Mr. Johnson," Nurse Wilson answered. "You see, the insurance companies contract with us because we have a reputation for following their directions exactly as requested on the exam forms. We've earned their trust over the years, and they know that we'll do whatever they ask."

She continued, "So we always use the form that they provide as a guide. We perform all aspects of the exam exactly as they have requested on the form." As she was talking, she looked directly at Jim and smiled. Jim was looking down toward the floor, avoiding eye contact. "We always do a thorough exam," she continued, "but in your case, the exam will be just a bit more thorough than usual. Don't worry about it, Mr. Johnson, I'm sure you'll pass your physical without any problem at all," she added.

The nurse continued talking directly to Jim as if I wasn't in the room. "However, if I may suggest, you might want to reconsider having your wife in the room. You see, I'm afraid it might be a bit embarrassing for you -- and perhaps for her."

I spoke up, not wanting to lose my chance to witness Jim's exam. " I think Jim would be more comfortable if I were to stay, isn't that right, dear?" I looked directly into Jim's eyes as I spoke, as if to send him a "don't you dare make me leave" message.

Jim looked back at me and smiled. "That's right," he said to the nurse. "I'd actually prefer to have Mandy here, even if it might be embarrassing."

"Well, that is entirely up to you," answered the nurse, "I can only make the suggestion -- it is your decision."