Derek Kline bit into the spicy shrimp and winced. The pain in his left rear molar was intense, it had been worsening for the last three days, but his excessive fear of dentists had kept him from making an appointment until this morning. Now it wouldn"t be until Monday before he could get treatment. That meant another three days of this pain before he"d get any relief. The dentist"s secretary had been sympathetic, but not sympathetic enough to find a way to squeeze him in today. In the meantime, the best they could offer was suggesting he take Motrin to help with the pain. So far, their suggestion had helped marginally, but not anywhere near enough.
Derek glanced across the table to his friend Robert Walsh. Robert was hungrily eating, and it made him a little envious to see his lifelong fr
