No Introductions Needed

[Ron. Lavalette]

On Saturday morning he goes to the hospital for a chest X-ray because yesterday he told the doctor he’s worried he can’t breathe, and then the doctor got all worried, too, listening to him six ways from Sunday and finally sending in a technician to do some spirometrics. 

It takes him longer to walk into and out of the hospital than it does to make the required exposures; the radiologist, apparently only about fourteen years old, is chirpy, energetic, and very efficient.

He pops into the pharmacy to pick up his two new prescriptions and to look for something to replace the knee brace he lost on vacation.

Standing in line at the cashier, he mentally adds up the morning’s activities and comes up with the obvious conclusion: it’s time for coffee.

The bookstore café beckons.

When he gets there, the Geezers have already gathered and, although they still do not offer him a seat at their tables, when he comes limping in they shoot him a longer glance than usual, which seems, he imagines, to confirm the likelihood of imminent inclusion.  

[Joey Delgado]

The last line is great. The bond between men who are old and infin, unspoken, but still doesn't transcend the clicques. Great job.

[Judy Thompson]

im with Gita on this one. Tell your friend the Imminent (but not there yet) Geezer that we do worry about things like that.

[Gita]

If the Geezers don't teach him the secret handshake pretty soon, he can always walk in with a paper sack full of his Rx-es and plop them on their table. Once they see the lipitor, he'll be in like Flynn.

Good one, except for the fact that you worried me with that difficulty breathing shit. I scare easily. Reassure me that he is not in iminent danger, please.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

I love the linking of the medical workup (with the 14 year old radiologist) and the gathering of friends (Geezers).  Which group would YOU rely on? 

[Teresa]

Love line #4.  Coffee is a panacea.

[Jadie Jones]

I love the last line in particular

[Brittany]

I love your voice in these reflections/observations. It's hard not to smile after sentence 6.

[Sandra Davies]

Subtle yet weighty in what is implied - these are to be returned to time and again to wring out each gradually-appearing facet.  

[Mike Handley]

Bravo, Ron

[Judy Thompson]

This is great, Ron.  I can just see the geezers with those long diagnostic stares,  summing up the total of what he is at that moment...and oh yes, I know about people way too young to be treating us old folks, you think, they let them do this out of HIGH SCHOOL?  Where is your mother, young lady...

You do this so well, you know.  You manage to involve people so totally, you become the guy ahead of us  in line...