The Surgery

By A J Spencer

Joshua Bruce had no idea what he was letting himself in for when going for his first ever job interview. But after a few years, he was entangled in a career of fraud and theft, deceit and blackmail, violence and disaster. However, he still manages to come out on top.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A J Spencer
• Release date: Aug 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476357690

Book preview

What others are saying about The Surgery

Great read, full of action and adventure, I’m just glad none of this happens at my own doctor’s surgery

-- G. Jones

This had me hooked right from the off, I couldn’t put it down!

-- J. Monaghan

The Surgery

By A J Spencer

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 A J Spencer

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1

The interview

I’m here to see Mr Draper, I have an interview said Joshua in his usual secretive tone. It’s not that he doesn’t want any of the other undesirables in the waiting room to hear what he is saying, he is just a very shy person, always has been. Or it could just be that he is talking to the most masculine female medical receptionist one had ever encountered. The reception desk itself didn’t help matters; Joshua was tall but could still barely see over the top at the big butch clerk on the other side. Bridget reached for the phone and smashed in a few digits with her shovel like hands.

There’s a young lad here to see you, says he has an interview she roared. Now looking up at Joshua, What’s your name?

J..J..Josh, I mean, Joshua Bruce he responded. Still talking on the phone, Bridget is feeding this information back to Mr Draper.

He says his name is Joshua Bruce…hmm…yep…OK she finishes before dropping the handset back in to place. Mr Draper said take a seat, he will come out to meet you in a moment.

Joshua leaves the reception area and sits down in the crowded waiting room. He is looking round at all the posters stuck to the walls with what looks like chewing gum that’s been stuck there for as long as the surgery was standing. Hundreds of thoughts are running through his head, what is Mr Draper like? Is he really going to be able to do this job? What if the other staff don’t like him? What will he be asked in the interview? Why is this man next to him staring at his tie and dribbling?

What are you here for? shouted one of the patients. Well, she didn’t shout, it’s just her usual way of speaking, loudly! Joshua turned to the side to see this elderly lady sitting on the end of the row clutching on to her shopping trolley, she was staring back at him with a grin that resembled something from a children’s fantasy cartoon featuring goblins. She only had a few teeth, one of which was poking through her tight-lipped mouth and she had that look in her eye that said ‘I am going to bug you now until one of us has to leave’.

I have an interview with the manager replied Josh. The ladies eyes lit up, this was a subject she was going to enjoy talking about, not because she’s interested but because she was expecting him to talk about some acute ailment that he has come to discuss, she wasn’t expecting something like this.

Golly, are you going to be our new receptionist? The receptionists are really nice here, especially Tracey, she gives me tea and biscuits when I come here, she’s my favourite one of them all. The lady was clearly getting excited as her grin grew wider and wider and she hardly took a breath while spitting out her fondness of the staff. It was becoming clear to Josh that this lady had some sort of learning or behavioural disability but she was harmless and seemed to have a heart of gold. Luckily for Josh, Mr Draper was at the door smiling down at him, Joshua? he asked. Josh stood up, outstretched his arm to go in for the formal handshake, and followed the manager through the office door and in to his private office at the back of the building.

Hi Joshua, I’m Jonathan, is it alright for me to call you Josh? started Jonathan. Josh nodded, a bit bewildered about what was going on, this was his first ever job interview after all. He had not long left college, so had not gained any experience for interviews and had no idea how it all worked or what was coming next. The pair spent about half an hour in the office discussing Josh’s school and college grades, his hopes for the future and the career opportunities that arise from working within General Practice. Things were looking hopeful for Josh.

Right Josh, thanks for coming and it’s been great meeting you. I just need to discuss things with Hilary, I mean Dr Jessop, she is the Senior Partner here and although I am the Practice Manager, you would primarily be working for her so the decision lies with her Jonathan explains. I’ll show you out.

As Josh stands up to leave his seat, he is looking around the room at the strange landscape pictures hanging on the wall with various inspirational words underneath such as Success and Achieve. In the corner above Jonathan’s desk, Josh notices a poster which looks like it has been pulled out of a magazine and stuck on the wall. It is advertising some sort of weight gaining powder supplement and has a picture of a tanned and very muscular body builder in some skimpy underpants, holding his milkshake drink. He thought this was a bit strange but decided to ignore that he had seen this. The pair left the room and headed towards the door that connects the admin area to the patient’s waiting room.

I will speak with Dr Jessop after her morning surgery and if you are successful, I will give you a call this afternoon said Jonathan. Josh smiled and they shook hands once again.

As Josh walked through the waiting room towards the exit, he heard the old lady from before approach the reception desk in tears because Bridget refused to give her one of the hobnobs a previous patient had given to the staff.

After battling off the