"What's up, Doc?"

"What you are experiencing is a range of complex emotions. Here is a script, something to take the edge off your distressing feelings. Take that to the pharmacist, after you sort the fee at the front desk there. Nice to catch up......."

The good doctor turned away, being Dr. Siddy, a prescription machine for a conglomerate medical franchise.

Before he could invite his next aging patient into his consulting room, his internal phone rang again, annoyingly. It was his new 30 year old beloved, Angelique Ha. Lately, she had been sounding more and more hysterical.

"What's wrong now?" Dr. Siddy, the formerly wise old owl of modern medicine asked, hesitantly. He could sense this was a post-weekend theatrical meltdown. There was a pattern appearing. Dr. Siddy's grey hair was practically standing on end.

The sordid tale soon emerged. Dr. Siddy tried to defuse the conflict between Angelique and her ex-husband. That bad guy was 48 hours overdue on returing his young twin sons after an overnight access visit. Much lamenting and phone wailing ensued. Dr. Siddy realised that he and Angelique were feeling some very complex emotions. He needed a holiday!

Dr. Siddy was well aware that his more than capable and efficient receptionist was listening in. She had sided with his ex-wife, that pearl Caitlin. Dr. Siddy used to be part of the toffee social scene, the pride of the medical providers, and a well-respected leader of the religious in the local church in the community.

Dr. Siddy and Caitlin's longstanding marriage had produced two sons. They were the pride of the most expensive church schooling money could afford. Now Jamie and Alex had moved on to the city, where both had professional careers and significant ladies. They could maintain their lifestyles, being the young and virile.

Dr. Siddy had, somewhere in his male brain, felt a tad of envy of both his handsome lads. He thought he and Caitlin could enjoy a second honeymoon stage of their nuptials. He would wake up early in the morning, his focus on below his navel. He would ask, as foreplay, "Are you awake?"

"Well, I wasn't!" Caitlin would reply, "Is that all you can think about?" Caitlin was once a nurse, and stayed up late studying. She wished to refresh her nursing skills, and resume her once eminent career as a mature aged leader of a nursing station. Dr. Siddy had been reduced to heading off to bed, lying there, staring at sports on his late night television. Sometimes, he browsed online on dating websites, eyeing off some very attractive young women. Yes, it always takes two to tango, when the love rat does stray in anyone's marriage.

One evening, he had clicked and liked a nubile young Asian female, who also claimed to be a medical provider. They communicated online, with secret text messages, full of innuendos and affirmation that Dr. Siddy was one hot dude! Angelique knew how to turn him on, and said all the enticing things. She had turned up at the medical centre one sunny day. The wise old doctor, 60 years young, took her to lunch. One drink led to another, one kiss led to more. Dr. Siddy was really, really late back to his consulting room. His patients hd been patiently waiting. They all accepted that, when a doctor is running late, he is really, really late.

Dr. Siddy and Angelique soon became the talk of the town. His wife was the last to know. Late one afternoon, he phoned her to say that he was delayed at a Medical Symposium. By the time the suspicious, formerly tolerant Caitlin was in bed, curled up with her latest good book, his number was up. His universe was about to whirl and change forever. Once too often, or so it seemed, Dr. Siddy had become Dr. Soddy. He had crept into his marital harmony reeking of another woman's perfume. Plus those telltale smears of Angelique's lipstick told a tale on him. Yes, Dr. Siddy had become a classic cliche. A sixty year old grey, aging male enamoured with such a young woman from South-East Asia.

Caitlin ditched the doctor. Even at that hour of the evening, she bagged up all his jocks and socks, his professional trousers and formerly immaculate shirts, a couple of sweaters, and commanded her husband to take a hike. She was staying. So was their beloved fluffy fur pal, who knew exactly which side its dinner bowl was buttered on. Food before dudes, definitely. In addition, their Mercedes was in her name. He had to relocate.

Many in their church and toff community sided with the notable Caitlin. Dr. Siddy's shirts never looked quite the same, few crinkles here and there. All the poor man wanted to do was free his willy. He never stopped to wonder what this new relationship meant for Angelique, let alone his sons. Jamie and Alex agreed with their mother, and were not too eager to have any step brothers sired by their sly old dog of a father. Privately, his sons also hoped they would present such virility when they reached their elderly years.

Dr. Siddy sat there, as his patients in the waiting room sat and waited. Patiently, of course. Their medical provider was having some very complex emotions. He wondered if this latest hysteria from Angelique would all blow over like a storm in a teacup. He offered her a two week holiday in his beach house, if Caitlin would grant him access.

Meanwhile, Caitlin and her hen den were planning the divorce party of all time. Her burgeoning grey hairs were now a sleek blonde bob, nicely styled. Her track suits of fleecy lined had given way to jaunty yoga pants, her trim figure was evident. Her casual footwear was now a pair of snow white espadrilles. She no longer had to care about washing her cheating husband's underwear, let alone what was in them.

The divorce celebration cake was a minor challenge for the caterer, a specialist cake designer. The overall effect centred around a solid grey butter frosting, with a fondant single woman as a cake topper. Underneath was inscribed one word only: "Freedom!" in silver, in best cursive script.

The girls all gathered, had some giggles and best tiddles. Everyone laughed when one lady said, "Who's up, Doc?"

"Who cares?"

A new universe meant freedom, smiles, and a new quality of life.