Back Cement

The doc takes a drag, then exhales. “Cement.”

“Come again?” I say.

“Well, it’s a special medical adhesive that we call cement.”

“Oh.”

“We’ll inject that into his fractured vertebra through a process called kyphoplasty,” the doc says. “Should fix him right up.” Doc takes another drag, nods; then, like an afterthought adds, “If he’s a candidate, that is.”

“Say what?” I go.

“Well, see, if this is an old fracture, we can’t do it. But if it’s a new one, we can.”

“What the hell are we supposed to do if you can’t?”

“Pain management,” the doc says.

“Drugs?”

Doc blinks ‘yes’ but doesn’t say or nod.

“Those aren’t working so well,” I say. “Including and especially the fucking morphine products that I told you not to give him …”

The doc exhales and waves away the smoke. “We’ve got him on opiods now. He’ll be fine.”

I sigh. “Those don’t seem to be doing much either.”

“Anyhoo,” the doc says, “we’ll get him down to MRI as soon as we can get him calm. He’s been a bit agitated.”

“No shit,” I think and don’t mean to say but I think I do.

“Talk with you after that,” the doc says, then the Bubble™ pops, and the doctor’s office vanishes from my den.

The robotic voice of Bubble™ speaks, in its ‘pleasant’ and ‘feminine’ tone: “Do you require post-consultation counseling, Mux Van Santana?”

“No,” I say. “I require a goddam competent doctor.”

“We assure you that all CoDex Medilifecarex™ physicians are appropriate licensed, insured, and qualified for their area or area of practice, including Doctor …”

“Shut it,” I say.

The robot stops talking.

I open the door to the backyard and go outside.

The breath of fresh air is good and immediately helpful to my state of mind.

Mostly focused on my breath and only dimly paying attention to the outside world, I begin walking through the yard.

It is helpful to go into these states of absorption. Much tension from the mind can be released, and a renewed clarity and focus comes about.

Something scratches but does not break the skin of my right big toe.

I look down and see I am standing on a cement garden tile. It is cracked.