3     The Jovial Nurse

3:00AM. They were led to an examining room.

The nurse, a big, friendly guy. Laughed, joked and put the man at ease. "So how you feeling this morning?"

"Stomach problem, not horrible. Between one and ten, I give it a five. It usually goes away."

"Yeah, sure."
Questions: general health, regularity, eating, smoking, drinking, various things.

"YOU HAD A WHISKEY?" The nurse fakes incredulity and then laughs. "My grandmother swore by her nightcaps... she lived to be a hundred.... Don't worry about it. A guys' gotta enjoy himself.

You're probably fine, but the doc wants to do a CT Scan to be sure."