“A bottle of eye drops please – chloramphenicol,
my wife (she’s a nurse) asked me to collect it for her,
she’s doing an extra shift today, and Sunday too,
to make ends meet.”
“One moment sir, I’ll have to ask the pharmacist.”
In retrospect, I think she already knew.
“So sorry sir, the pharmacist” (who’s hair I could just see
above the low partition) says the patient must attend.”
As I stormed off I realised
my silent rage was with myself.
Why didn’t I stay and say something clever like:
But they’re only eye drops –
my wife can’t get in, that’s why I’m here.
She’s quadriplegic (she’s not)
can’t you take my word – or hers?
She’s a nurse for God’s sake!
Instead I said:
“I’m leaving the country.”
I didn’t change anything.
13th XII 2009
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