“Hanged Man” is a work of fiction, and as such the usual disclaimer text that ‘any resemblance between the characters herein and real persons living or otherwise is purely coincidental’ applies.
Yearly Archives: 2003
The World Analgesia Association
It was late, Clark the Orderly With One Leg Shorter Than The Other had just wheeled the last client of the day out into Recovery and I was spraying air freshener around the evaluation room to get rid of the musky smell of terror when Professor K. came onto the intercom and asked to see me.
Ike & Ng
The first time you lose one, it is a surprise. Then you get used to it, and develop a routine as far as reanimation goes. Flat-line, get out the defibrillator, et cetera.
Lucky
“But Gretchen, I am your father!”
The screen door slammed behind her and she walked into the night and the fog in her mother’s coat. Far enough away to watch the house without being seen, she stood in the woods until she saw her dad come out, look around, then open the hood of the car and start messing with something. Nothing complicated, maybe just fixing a bulb in the light her mom had complained was burned out.
So, so soft
As I was telling you earlier, about when I was working on the tunnel crew one summer while I was in college, tunnel workers are hard drinkers. A professional tunneler, I don’t know when he sleeps. Digging and drinking is what they live for.
Visitation
Someone knocked at the door. My wife peeked out through the curtains.
“It’s the agnostics,” she said.
“How can you tell?” I asked.
“The nondescript way they’re dressed, midway between suit and polo shirt. And their car parked out front…”
“Which one?”