My Grandma Nora tended to react quite strongly
when cheated, swindled or treated wrongly
by a fast-talking larcenous door-to-door fellow
“Spalpeen, you’ll spend every last penny on medicine,” she’d bellow,
invoking an ancient curse she’d learned in County Clare,
which, unfortunately, is not quite as potent now, because of Medicare.
Gene Newman is a retired old guy (90 yrs) and former New Jersey journalist and columnist. Read more at GeneNewmanImagineThat.com.
“No insurance?” he asks.
She thinks he’s loud for a ghost, this doctor dressed top to bottom in white protective gear.
Her dry mouth only allows a nod. A saline bag. A needle. Pinch. The monoclonal antibodies flow into her arm. She imagines she’s taking her grandson to Disneyland instead.
Sarah Samson is a corporate responsibility consultant.
“Hello, nurse.”
“Good morning!”
“What’s on the menu today?”
“Appendix removal with side salad is on special, and Doctor Jones is whipping up his homemade double bypass.”
“Sounds wonderful, but I’m on a budget today. I’ll take a half-order of hip replacement, please.”
“Certainly. Don’t forget to tip your orderly!”
This story is based on a title suggested by @Invariel.