by Captivated Chat
Thank you, doctor. It was good of you to see me without an appointment.
Not at all.
It’s my head, you see.
Are you injured?
No, no. You see I had a drink that messed me up this morning.
Well?
I did not make it, my neighbor mixed some Bloody Marys.
Oh, this is the afternoon of the prawn cocktail!
Funny, but some odd things have started happening.
What you said on the phone, then, really happened?
Yes, it did.
Come back into my office, and you can lie down and rest. Then you’ll likely be all right.
All right.
Yeah these things you described are just coincidences!
I hope so.
You’re talking fine, and walking well. It’s okay.
Good!
Drink this.
No!
It is what you want.
To do what?
It’s a sedative!
Putting me to sleep for a little while is no help!
This morning, though, think about that. Perhaps you drank something out of the ordinary?
Huh? Why do you look at me like that? I did have an odd drink, as I say.
Tell me.
Well, we got to kidding about who could make the most unusual Bloody Mary. He was feeling smashed, and said he messed up what was usually in the drink.
But how?
I don’t know.
Well if I just knew what was in the drink… Perhaps some chemical reaction.
He was in the other room!
Oh wait, where do you think you’re going?
To the office!
Oh?
My business!
No! You’re a menace, a walking danger. Don’t you realize you can’t go out of here until we figure this out? Figure some way to stop it.
Dropped dead
Me?
If you don’t, then the first time you state a negative thought it may come true as you described, and someone may die. Do you want that?
Why would I? But maybe that’s the solution! You said that I was a menace, and when you said that, all at once everything became clear.
How’s that?
Well, me a menace? That’s the funniest thing anybody ever said. Half my teeth are my own. I’ve got a big belly. I’m a menace? Yet you’re a doctor who’s supposed to judge things only by facts.
What about it?
Well suddenly you decide I’m a menace. Why? Because screwy coincidences happen that I had nothing to do with. It’s like rolling the same number five times in a row.
Coincidences?
The fact that the plane would have fallen anyway, even without my predicting it. So the engine cut out just when I said it would, and those cars smashing together! I was so scared I ran off without finding out whether or not there was a good reason.
Cars have accidents all the time.
Sure! So that makes me a menace? I ask you, is that the way for a doctor to talk?
No, I’m sorry, you’re right! I’m a man who has always evaluated situations through factual evidence, and even then I’ve retained some skepticism because I know how misleading human observation can be.
Can I use your phone?
Sure.
I gotta call my office and explain why I’m late.
Certainly.
Uh hello, Fred, I am gonna be late because I am at the doctor’s office. Thank you! I know, I know! But I’m coming. Stop yelling! Oh, really? Drop dead, Fred! You creep. Fred, you still there?
What’s the matter?
I don’t know. One minute I was talking to him and then… Fred –- Fred, answer me! It can’t be the connection. Hello? Hello Robin, what is it? Tell me!
What’s she saying?
She says Fred just dropped dead!
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