Diners and Dentists

   Not too long ago, I brought a woman to the dentist, as part of my job as advocate.  Her child, almost two years old, started to wail as soon as she was out of sight.  No one besides the patient was allowed into the treatment room.  She had asked because she knew he would cry.  There was no room, she was told; it was against their rules.  After the child had cried for some minutes, dismissing all efforts to appease him by the dental assistant and me, the dentist emerged, into the waiting room, and said to me, "Would you take that child outside; my patients are getting upset."  He wasn't my child.  I was only helping his patient get there,and we had to bring her child.  But I took him outside anyway.  It was winter, but not too cold, and the ducks weren't on the pond, but we walked around the building, and around the building, and around...,.   And I didn't even alert the media.