cold rooms CHAPTER XIII “ERRORS ON AND OFF THE FIELD” THE OR AT COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL IS BUZZING. MANY NEW SURGEONS, NURSES AND TECHS HAVE JOINED THE TEAM. DR. RANKIN, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE TRAUMA SURGEON, HAS BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF NEW PATIENTS TO THE HOSPITAL. RANKIN HIMSELF IS RUNNING 2 - 3 OPERATING (ORs) ROOMS PER DAY. EVERYONE IS SO BUSY THAT THERE IS NOTHING BUT WORK FOR THE STAFF. JUDE RANKIN AND CLAY RANKIN ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DIVORCING, YET JUDE WANTS TO REMAIN MARRIED. THERE ARE TONS OF OR NURSES AWAITING THE FINAL DIVORCE DECREE AS CLAY IS EASY ON THE EYES FOR A WOMAN. THE 20 SOMETHING GANG AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK HAS KEPT TOGETHER BY HAVING FAITH IN QUADE AND THE CUBS. THE SOX ARE WOEFULLY STRUGGLING EARLY. ONE DOESN’T HEAR MUCH TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING SOX VS.CUBS SERIES THIS SUMMER DUE TO ENDLESS SOX BLUNDERS ON THE BASES, A WEAK BULLPEN, AND INABILITY TO OBTAIN CRITICAL AT BATS. THE SOX PITCHING HAS ALSO BEEN QUITE ERRATIC. THE CUBS ARE APPROACHING 500 BALL AFTER A ROUGH START AND THE FANS AT WRIGLEY REMAIN FOREVER OPTIMISTIC. WEAGHMAN’S PARK AT CLARK AND ADDISON REMAINS THE SPORTS HANGOUT FOR THE 20 SOMETHING CROWD LOOKING FOR AN INTELLIGENT FAN BASE AS WELL AS THE ZUERCHER CHEESE AND WISCONSIN BEER. HANG ONTO YOUR SEATS AS THE 20 SOMETHINGS FROM COOK COUNTY COLD ROOMS (ORs)INVITE DR. RANKIN TO THE AFTER WORK HANGOUT. IN THE MIDST OF CELEBRATING A LONG DAY IN THE COOK OR, DR. RANKIN’S WIFE, JUDE, WALKS IN AND PLEADS PUBLICLY FOR HER MARRIAGE TO NOT END WITH A POSITIVE LAB RESULT FROM THE COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL LAB. INT. COOK COUNTY OR NEAR THE END OF A BUSY SURGERY DAY. THE OR STAFF AND THE NEW DR.
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RANKIN ARE WELL INTO DISCUSSIONS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS:
MELANIE OR DUTY AT COOK COUNTY HAS BECOME ENDLESS WITH CASE AFTER CASE. ARE YOU EVER LETTING UP DR. RANKIN? DR. RANKIN NO WAY! NOW I’VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF AND MRS. RANKIN, JUDE, FOR YEARS AFTER MY FATAL MISTAKE. MELANIE ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU WANT TO DIVORCE? DR. RANKIN NO QUESTION. JUDE HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE. SHE HAS GONE PSYCHOTIC! MELANIE DID JUDE SEEK PSYCHIATRY HELP? DR. RANKIN YES, BUT NONE OF THE TREATMENTS WORKED. ALL THE NEW ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDS, ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY, HYPNOSIS, AND PSYCHOTHERAPY HAVE ALL FAILED. MELANIE SO YOU ARE DUMPING YOUR WIFE WHEN SHE IS ILL? DR. RANKIN WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? JUDE IS NON FUNCTIONAL. SHE SLEEPS IN UNTIL NOON EACH DAY AND DOESN’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE. MELANIE WHAT ABOUT THE POSSIBLE PREGNANCY? GLENDA DON’T YOU THINK THAT IS GETTING A BIT PERSONAL MEL? MELANIE MAYBE, BUT WE’RE ALL BUDS AROUND HERE. 3
DR. RANKIN IT’S OK. YOU’VE HEARD JUDE ON THE SPEAKER PHONE ALREADY. EVERYONE KNOWS SHE IS CRAZY. AND YES, SHE REPORTS SHE HASN’T HAD HER PERIOD YET - BUT I DON’T BELIEVE HER. WE’VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE. GLENDA WHAT ABOUT THE PREGNANCY TEST? DR. RANKIN JUDE COULDN’T PERFORM A PREGNANCY TEST NOR READ THE RESULTS ACCURATELY. GLENDA HAS SHE SEEN A GYNECOLOGIST? DR. RANKIN NO, THOUGH I’VE MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HER RIGHT HERE AT THE COOK CLINICS. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? GLENDA YOU COULD DO THE PREGNANCY TEST YOURSELF. MELANIE THEN WHAT DOES DR. RANKIN DO IF IT’S POSITIVE? GLENDA HE BECOMES A DAD. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. DR. RANKIN DON’T EVEN GO THERE. WE’VE HAD THESE PREGNANCY SCARES FOR YEARS. GLENDA DOESN’T MATTER. PREGNANCY HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. I KNOW. I’VE BEEN THERE. AND IT DOESN’T HAPPEN AT A TIME WHICH IS PERFECT FOR A COUPLE. DR. RANKIN WE ARE NO LONGER A COUPLE. WE HAVE FILED FOR DIVORCE IN COOK COUNTY COURTS. 4
THERE IS NO FURTHER RELATIONSHIP. IF JUDE IS PREGNANT, WE’LL BOTH HAVE TO JUST DEAL WITH IT. MELANIE ARE YOU COMING TO WEAGHMAN’S PARK AFTER SURGERY IS FINISHED? GLENDA WE ARE ALL GOING. DR. HANSON IS HEADING TO THE SOX OR BLACKHAWKS GAME AND I’M OFF TO THE PLAYOFFS WITH THE BULLS. I CAN TASTE THOSE ZUERCHER CHEESE PLATTERS AS WE SPEAK. I’M NOT MUCH OF A BEER DRINKER— I’LL JUST TAKE THE BLUMERS ROOT BEER FROM MONROE. DR. RANKIN YEAH, I GUESS I’LL HEAD ON OVER AFTER I CLEAN UP. I HAVE TO LIVE IN AN APARTMENT NEAR THE HOSPITAL. MELANIE DO YOU NEED A RIDE? DR. RANKIN I WAS JUST TAKING THE L TRAIN - REDLINE INTO WRIGLEY. IS SAM COMING? MELANIE I DON’T KNOW. WE HAD A MONSTER ARGUMENT LAST NIGHT. I’M NOT CERTAIN WE SHOULD GET MARRIED IF HE CONTINUES TO BE SO STUBBORN. GLENDA MELANIE! AT SOME POINT YOU CANNOT BE SO DOMINANT. I KNOW YOU ARE HERE WITH ALL THE TRAUMA ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS REQUIRED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. BUT REALIZE GUYS ARE DIFFERENT. AT LEAST GIVE THEM THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY ARE IN CONTROL. NO GUY IS EXCITED ABOUT A GAL WHO DOMINATES ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE KITCHEN. MELANIE THIS ARGUMENT WASN’T EVEN OVER ANY OF THAT STUFF OR THE WEDDING. HECK OUR PARENTS 5
LONG AGO ASSUMED TOTAL CONTROL OF THE WEDDING. WE ARE JUST SHOWING UP. THIS WAS ABOUT WHETHER TO HAVE KIDS OR NOT! GLENDA SO SAM DOESN’T WANT KIDS? MELANIE NOT NOW; AND MAYBE NEVER! I’M NOT CERTAIN I SHOULD MARRY BECAUSE I WANTED AT LEAST 5 - A BIG FAMILY ALL SITTING AROUND AND SUFFERING THROUGH THE BEARS EVERY SUNDAY. THAT IS REAL CHICAGO FAMILY LIFE. SAM IS SO WISHY WASHY - THINKS WE SHOULD TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD, PRACTICE A BIT, SIGHT SEE, AND JUST SIP WINE NIGHTLY. I’M READY TO GET PREGNANT RIGHT NOW. DR. HANSON WELL THERE WON’T BE TIME. A LARGE BUILDING JUST COLLAPSED ON WACKER. THEY ARE DIVIDING UP AS MANY OF THE LIVING VICTIMS AS THEY CAN BUT MOST ARE ON THEIR WAY TO OUR LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER. DR. RANKIN I’LL HANG UNTIL WE GET EVERYONE STABILIZED - BUT HOPEFULLY WE’LL GET THIS MESS CLEANED UP QUICKLY. WE’VE GOT EXPERIENCED RESIDENTS IN HOUSE WHO ARE ALL STAYING. DR. HANSON I’VE GOT A FEW TRAUMA FELLOWS THAT NEED TO GET THEIR FEET WET. HERE COMES THE FIRST ONE FROM THE ER. MULTI-SYSTEM TRAUMA WITH NO TIME FOR CT SCAN. PATIENT IS INTUBATED; GLASGOW COMA SCALE VERY LOW; AND WE NEED TO OPEN HIS CHEST AND ABDOMEN. DR. RANKIN I’LL TAKE THIS ONE. SEND ME ONE OF THE SURGICAL TRAUMA FELLOWS. I WANT THE CHIEF ANESTHESIA RESIDENT ALSO, NOT A ROOKIE. MELANIE OK, WE’VE GOT THE LEVEL ONE BLOOD INFUSION DEVICE READY WITH O NEGATIVE BLOOD IF WE 6
DON’T HAVE TYPE SPECIFIC BY THE TIME THE INCISION IS MADE. DR. RANKIN OK - ANESTHESIA HERE WE GO. TWO UNITS OF BICARB AND THEN CHECK BLOOD GASES. OBTAIN A DIC SCREEN* FOR BASELINE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE REGARDING BLOOD LOSS AND COAGULATION. HAVE THE NEW PROTHROMBIN MIX AND FACTOR 7 AVAILABLE AS WELL AS CRYOPRECIPITATE AND FRESH FROZEN PLASMA BEING THAWED. I WANT COAGULATION THE BEST IT CAN BE. PLACE A SWAN GANZ CATHETER** TO MEASURE INTRAVASCULAR VOLUME IF YOU HAVE TIME. MEDICAL STUDENTS: WE WANT THE BLOOD VOLUME ITSELF OPTIMAL. *(Disseminated intravascular coagulation screen. This is a group of blood clotting tests used to help diagnose and evaluate a blood clotting and bleeding disorder called disseminated intravascular coagulation). **(Swan-Ganz catheterization is the passing of a thin tube (catheter) into the right side of the heart and the arteries leading to the lungs to monitor the heart’s function and blood flow). DR. HANSON STAY WITH THE BLOOD LOSS AND COAGULATION. WE ARE SEEING LITTLE CLOT CLINICALLY, SO WE ARE IN FOR SOME BLEEDING. WE ACTUALLY CAN SAVE THIS YOUNG MAN. WE NEED TO MAINTAIN EVERYTHING - COAGULATION, HEMOGLOBIN, AND VASCULAR VOLUME AS WELL AS PH. WE NEED LOW DOSE INOTROPES,* ALSO WITH DOPAMINE AND EPINEPHRINE. I DON’T WANT A LOW BLOOD PRESSURE STATE. *(Medicines to help the blood pressure and cardiac contractility). DR. RANKIN I’VE GOT THE CHEST BLEEDERS UNDER CONTROL. THE LIVER LOOKS DECENT BUT THE SPLEEN IS BEYOND SALVAGING AND IS COMING OUT NEXT.
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MELANIE DO YOU WANT ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY IN HERE TO DEAL WITH THE PELVIC AND LONG BONE FRACTURES? DR. RANKIN NO - LET’S GET THIS GUY PACKED AND HEAD TO THE ICU. WHAT ELSE IS COMING IN TO THE OR? DR. HANSON IT LOOKS LIKE GENERAL SURGERY TOOK A BUNCH OF CASES WITH ORTHO AND THEY ARE ALL DOING WELL. A FEW DIED EN ROUTE OR IN THE ER. THIS APPARENTLY WAS A LARGE EXPLOSION. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THEY’VE CLOSED OFF THE MAGNIFICENT MILE AREA. DR. RANKIN I ALSO THINK WE CAN SAVE THIS GUY IF WE STAY TOTALLY ON TOP OF HIM. THE TRAUMA RESIDENT WILL NEED TO SLEEP IN THE ICU TONIGHT. ZERO BLOOD PRESSURE DROPS. MAINTAIN CARDIAC OUTPUT TO THE MAXIMUM. MELANIE IT LOOKS LIKE ONCE WE HAND OFF THIS PATIENT TO THE CRITICAL CARE GUYS WE ARE OUT OF HERE AND ON OUR WAY TO WEAGHMAN’S PARK. I RECEIVED A TEXT THAT JOSH, KERI, ELLIOTT, AND WILL ALL ARE COMING. YOU’VE GOT TIME TO CLEAN UP DR. RANKIN. GLENDA AND WE ARE MAKING THE BULLS AND BLACKHAWK GAMES. I KNOW THE BULLS WILL GET TO THE FINALS. AT LEAST I FEEL THEY WILL. DR. HANSON THE BLACKHAWKS ARE JUST NOT THE SAME TEAM THAT WON THE STANLEY CUP LAST YEAR. I DON’T SEE THEM ADVANCING TO THE FINALS BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. GLENDA WHAT ABOUT SAM? IS HE COMING?
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MELANIE I TEXTED HIM AND TOLD HIM WHAT WAS UP. HE DIDN’T RESPOND WHICH PROBABLY MEANS HE’S STILL UPSET ABOUT LAST NIGHT. GLENDA, I JUST DON’T KNOW IF WE’LL MAKE IT AS A COUPLE. GLENDA YOU WILL. JUST BEGIN BACKING OFF WHEN YOU LEAVE THE OR AND THESE IMPOSSIBLY COLD ROOMS AT COOK. DR. HANSON AND TURN THE HEAT BACK UP TO 72 DEGREES. THIS OR HAS GOT TO BE THE COLDEST ROOM IN THE HOSPITAL. REMEMBER DESPITE BEAR HUGGERS*, THE TRAUMA PATIENT’S SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON THE AMBIENT ROOM TEMPERATURE. COLD ROOMS KILL PATIENTS. *(Bear Huggers are thermal heating systems used to keep patients warm, typically while in a hospital). DR. RANKIN TRANSFERRING THE PATIENT TO ICU. WE’RE OUT OF HERE. CALL ORTHO AND HAVE THEM SET THE FRACTURES IN THE MORNING. I’LL SEE EVERYONE AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK SHORTLY. DR. HANSON DR. RANKIN, DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY CALL IT WEAGHMAN’S PARK? DR. RANKIN YES I DO! CHARLIE WEAGHMAN WAS THE GUY WHO BUILT WRIGLEY FIELD WAY BACK IN THE EARLY 1900S. I THINK IT’S PRETTY COOL TO HAVE A PLACE ACROSS FROM WRIGLEY NAMED AFTER HIM. FADE OUT: INT. WEAGHMAN’S PARK. A WISCONSIN THEMED 20 SOMETHING HANGOUT, AT THE CORNER OF CLARK AND ADDISON. EVERYONE IS HAVING A GREAT TIME TALKING SOX AND CUB BASEBALL. ZUERCHER CHEESE PLATES, BRATS, AS WELL AS LEINE’S AND SPOTTED COW BEER
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ARE THE FEATURED AND VIRTUALLY ONLY ITEMS ON THE MENU:
DR. RANKIN HEY, I’M IN ENEMY TERRITORY. I GREW UP A SOX FAN. HOW ON EARTH CAN I COME DOWN TO WEAGHMAN’S PARK AND TALK UP THE CUBS?? I’M SITTING HERE WATCHING THE REPLAYS AND EVEN AS A SOX FAN IT IS WRETCHEDLY PAINFUL TO WATCH ALL THESE CUB ERRORS. GLENDA THE SOX WILL COME AROUND. THEY ARE BEATING THE YANKS TONIGHT. NOT BAD FOR A TEAM THAT ALREADY HAS A SEVEN GAME LOSING STREAK. MELANIE THE WORST THING IS THAT I’VE NOTICED THAT SOME KEY GUYS ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING. DUNN AND RIOS ARE BATTING UNDER 200. THANK GOD DANKS IS PITCHING WELL. HE’S OUR SAVIOR. DR. HANSON THE E.R.A. IS DECENT, AROUND 4; BUT HE IS 0 AND 3. VIRTUALLY NO RUN SUPPORT. I’VE HEARD HE MAY TAKE HIS OFFENSE TO COURT! DR. RANKIN KONERKO AND PIERZYNSKI ARE BEGINNING TO HIT. ONCE THEY START LEAVING THE YARD WE’LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE. THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN SOLID FOR YEARS. GLENDA THE SOX ARE PURE BASEBALL. THEY DON’T REALLY HAVE ALL THE PR STUNTS THE CUBS PULL. THERE GOES ANOTHER CUB ERROR. THIS IS LIKE DOUBLE A BALL. IS QUADE THE ANSWER? DR. HANSON THE ANSWER IS THAT THESE KIDS DON’T GROW UP PLAYING PICKUP BASEBALL. EITHER ONE MAKES THE PLAY OR HE SITS IN THE OUTFIELD ALL AFTERNOON. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. IT’S MUCH MORE FUN TO SLAM LINE DRIVES THAN IT IS TO THROW A GUY OUT FROM THE OUTFIELD. 10
JOSH HEY GUYS. I’M WORKING TONIGHT. THE JOB ON THE GOLD COAST IS GOING OK. NO MARRIAGE, NO KIDS, NOTHING YET. MELANIE WHAT HAPPENED WITH KERI? JOSH IT GOT CLOSE, AND THEN I JUST DON’T KNOW. KERI I’LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED. THESE WEAGHMAN’S PARK GUYS ARE IMMATURE, SELF CENTERED, AND DON’T KNOW HOW TO “STEP UP.” AND MELANIE, IF YOU GET ANY CLOSER TO DR. RANKIN, WHO I’VE NOT YET MET, I’LL BET THAT YOU AND SAM HAD A BIG ARGUMENT LAST NIGHT. WILL I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO CHILL. WE’RE ALL HERE TO HAVE FUN; NOT ASSIGN ROOMMATES. LOOK AT THESE GREAT CHEESE PLATTERS FROM THE ZUERCHER PLANT IN GREEN COUNTY AND SPOTTED COW BEER, ALSO FROM GREEN COUNTY. I’VE BECOME AN ADDICT. DR. HANSON GLENDA AND I ARE OFF TO SOME SERIOUS STUFF: BLACKHAWK AND BULL PLAYOFFS. I CANNOT SOLVE 20 SOMETHINGS’ PROBLEMS. THINGS ALWAYS WORK OUT. SEE YOU IN THOSE “COLD ROOMS” TOMORROW. DR. RANKIN MELANIE, ARE YOU MAYBE BECOMING A CLOSET SOX FAN? MELANIE I LIKE BOTH TEAMS ACTUALLY. I STARTED ROOTING FOR THE CUBS AFTER HANGING OUT ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN. TUSCANY’S BERNIE’S, SLUGGERS, MURPHY’S BLEACHERS, CUBBY BEAR, MORAN’S, HAREY CAREY, AND THE LIST GOES ON. WE’VE HAD A TON OF FUN HERE.
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KERI IT’S WEIRD MEL THAT SAM CALLED ME THIS MORNING. DIDN’T SAY MUCH. I JUST DIDN’T WANT TO INTRUDE. MELANIE I THOUGHT WE AGREED TO STAY OUT OF EACH OTHER’S AFFAIRS? KERI I AM. HERE’S THE PHONE RECORD. WHAT CAN I SAY? I KNOW HOW HE IS! TRUST ME. MELANIE I’D RATHER NOT DISCUSS SAM. YES - WE DID HAVE A MONSTER FIGHT LAST NIGHT. KERI I KNOW IF HE DOESN’T GET HIS WAY, WELL IT’S CURTAINS. I TOLD HIM HE WAS SELF CENTERED AND ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT HIMSELF - A POOR CANDIDATE FOR DOCTOR’S WITHOUT BORDERS. MELANIE YOU KNOW - I AGREE. MAYBE WE NEED TO TALK MORE. I CAN’T STAND THE BIPOLAR MOODS. KERI IF YOU GET ANY CLOSER TO DR. RANKIN, YOU’LL BE A SIAMESE TWIN WITH HIM. DR. RANKIN WE’RE JUST COOK OR BUDDIES. I’M CLAY AND YOU ARE......... KERI KERI. I’M THE TOMBOY HERE. AND YES, I’VE HEARD ALL ABOUT YOU. THE NEW PLASTIC RECONSTRUCTIVE GUY: CUTE, SOX FAN, AND APPARENTLY SOON TO BE SINGLE. NO KIDS? JUDE YES WE HAVE KIDS! SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT THE FAMOUS DR. RANKIN -OH CALL ME CLAY TO ALL THE CUTE AVAILABLE NURSES - IS HAVING A BABY WITH HIS WIFE. HIS WIFE IS JUDE AND IT IS ME STANDING RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. 12
AND YES JOSH, I’LL HAVE A ZUERCHER SWISS SANDWICH FROM CHICAGO AND A BLUMER’S ROOT BEER. AT LEAST I’M LOYAL TO CHICAGO CHEESE. DR. RANKIN JUDE, YOU WERE NOT EVEN INVITED! JUDE I’M HERE ON MY OWN; BUT NOT TO WATCH YOU CUDDLE UP WITH ALL THE COOK NURSES. KERI I’M A SOCIAL WORKER JUDE, MY NAME IS KERI, AND I’M THE CUB TOM BOY SO TO SPEAK. I’M HERE FOR THE GUYS CUBS AND BEAR CONVERSATIONS. JUDE I GET IT. WOMEN NEED TO TAKE MORE OF A STAND. WHY IS IT THAT THE GUY ALWAYS ASKS FOR OUR HAND IN MARRIAGE; THE GUY ALWAYS ASKS US OUT INITIALLY; THE GUY DECIDES WHERE WE ARE TO LIVE; AND THE GUY ESSENTIALLY DECIDES THE SIZE OF OUR FAMILY? WELL I KNOW CLAY AND I WILL AT LEAST HAVE A THREESOME. DR. RANKIN JUDE IF YOU WERE PREGNANT, YOU’D BE NAUSEATED AND VOMITING. YOU WOULDN’T BE EATING A ZUERCHER CHEESE SANDWICH AND SIPPING BLUMERS. JUDE WHO KNOWS CLAY, MAYBE I’LL WANT TO MOVE TO MONROE SO THIS FOOD AND DRINK IS EVEN FRESHER. DO YOU WANT TO WATCH THESE CUB ERRORS FOREVER? SEEMS LIKE DOUBLE A LEAGUE BALL TO ME. JOSH YOU’RE THE SECOND ONE TO COMPARE THE CUBS FIELDING TO DOUBLE A BALL. MAYBE QUADE HAS LOST IT?
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DR. RANKIN I AGREE WITH DR. HANSON. BASEBALL IS LIKE SURGERY - YOU CANNOT LEARN FROM A TEXT, YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY DO IT. MAYBE THE CUBS SHOULD HAVE PRACTICE SESSIONS PLAYING WORKUP? WILL I REALLY THINK GALS HAVE CHANGED. IT SEEMS AS IF NO ONE IS HAPPY ON THE FEMALE END. THEY WANT IT BOTH WAYS. KERI NO WAY! WE JUST WANT TO BE LOVED AND LISTENED TO. AND HAVE A DECENT CUBS TEAM THAT CAN CATCH A GROUNDER AND THROW A BALL SOMEWHAT STRAIGHT. ELLIOTT HEY GUYS. I RECEIVED THE TEXT THAT EVERYONE WAS HERE. JUST THOUGHT I’D DROP IN FOR A LEINE’S AND A BRAT FROM SHEBOYGAN. STILL HAVE THOSE BRATS WITH MELTED ZUERCHER SWISS JOSH? JOSH NOTHING HAS CHANGED. IN FACT THE MENU HAS EXPANDED - ADDING MORE ITEMS FROM GREEN COUNTY WISCONSIN; INCLUDING THE SPOTTED COW BEER AND BLUMERS ROOT BEER. ELLIOTT THAT’S COOL. I’LL HAVE THE ROOT BEER. I’M TRYING OUT FOR “HAIR” TOMORROW. REMEMBER THAT MUSICAL? THE COWSILLS? IT’S ALL ON ITS WAY! PRETTY COMPETITIVE THOUGH. I NEED TO BE ON THE TOP OF MY GAME DURING TRYOUTS HOWEVER, SO NO BEER. WHAT’S WITH THE CUBS THROWING THE BALL ALL OVER WRIGLEY? MELANIE ALL I KNOW IS THAT EVEN THE SOX CANNOT MAKE THIS MANY ERRORS - NOT EVEN WITH THEIR FARM CLUBS.
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JUDE MEL - SOUNDS LIKE YOU AND DR. RANKIN HIT IF OFF WELL IN THOSE COLD ROOMS IN THE COOK OR. ENJOY YOUR SHORT LIVED FANTASY WITH MY HUSBAND BECAUSE WE ARE NOW A REAL FAMILY. HERE IS MY POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST TAKEN TODAY AT THE COOK COUNTY LAB. DR. RANKIN JUDE, MAYBE WE SHOULD HEAD ON HOME TOGETHER TONIGHT! WE NEED TO TALK.
THE END - COLD ROOMS XIIi
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