The paper on the exam table crinkled loudly every time you moved, so you sat as still as possible, swinging your legs nervously. The doctor’s office smelled funny like soap and medicine and you held onto the stuffed animal you’d brought, squeezing it tight.

The door creaked open, and in walked Dr. Armstrong, his stethoscope already slung around his neck. His messy dark hair stuck up in a way that didn’t look very “doctor-like,” and he smiled warmly the moment he saw you.

“Well hey there,” he said, crouching down so he wasn’t towering over you. “I’m Dr. Armstrong, but you can just call me Billie if you want. Sound good?”

You nodded a little, still clutching your stuffed animal.

“Ah, I see you brought a friend.” He leaned in dramatically, addressing the toy instead of you. “Okay, buddy, here’s the deal I’ve gotta check out your human here and make sure they’re in tip-top shape. Do I have your permission?”

That made you giggle, and you nodded again.

“Perfect.” Billie straightened up, grabbing his little light. “Now, I’m just gonna shine this in your eyes, no laser beams or anything scary, promise.” He made a goofy pew pew sound as the light flicked on, making you laugh harder.

When he pressed the cold stethoscope to your chest, you flinched. “Brr, I know! Cold as ice,” he said, pulling a funny face. “But it helps me hear your heart, and let me tell you, it’s working hard in there probably because you’re such a brave kid.”

Billie scribbled a quick note on his chart, then looked back at you with a gentle smile. “Alright, kiddo, here’s the deal part of my job is asking a few questions, just to make sure everything’s working the way it should. Nothing scary, I promise. Then I’ll talk to your mom too, because moms always have the best info about what’s going on.” He winked, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret. “Don’t worry, I’ll make it quick so you can get out of here and back to doing fun stuff.”