Smile

I knew I was short on clothes because I had been too busy to do my laundry. Two extra shifts this week and trying to catch up on missed sleep had done it. I looked in my underwear drawer and saw only the joke boxers my sis had given me the previous Christmas. White with big yellow smiley faces. Thank the Lord no one would see them…My sock drawer was no better. Santa Claus socks. How could I wear green and red Santa Clause socks in September? It was still WARM for God’s sakes.

I got dressed feeling a bit less than my usual confident self. I like to think of myself as a manly, masculine, man’s man, and Smiley Face underwear on a guy does not lead to that semi macho feeling I like to have. As for my Santa Claus socks on a 70 degree day – I was just glad my jeans were a little long.
I needed to cash my check to do the laundry and pick up the dry cleaning, so I reluctantly drove to the hospital. Sometimes I think I live there.
 
I was in personnel when the Chief of Medicine walked in and saw me. Dr K is a small but quite dignified man, piercing blue eyes and a light grey beard and moustache. He comes up to my shoulder.
            “Hey Rob, we could sure use you for an extra few hours today, we are getting slammed in ER.” That would be good if I could actually get paid for it, but I would work the extra hours for ‘comp time’ which, of course, I would never get. My problem was, this was the Chief of Medicine asking me personally. That’s a bit like God asking Noah to build the ark. He will also be a huge factor in who will be Chief Resident. How can a guy say no?
            “Sure Dr. K, no problem.”
 
I walked over to the ER locker room to put on some scrubs and grab my lab coat. I entered and looked around – ‘good,’ I thought to myself, ‘no one here.’ I could change up fast and no one would see my Smiley Face boxers, and ridiculous socks.
I stripped down quickly in front of my locker, and was about to don my scrubs when I heard a chuckle behind me. It was Dr K, he had followed me into the locker room.
            “Well Rob, interesting choice of wardrobe ya got there.”
I turned around and faced him. I usually laugh this kind of stuff off, but I was tired, cranky, and a bit humiliated.
“Dr K, I work in this freaking place more hours than any of the other guys, I have comp hours that I will never use coming out of my freakin’ BUTT, and now I have no damn clean underwear. So go bust someone else’s chops!”
Dr K actually started to laugh.
            “Rob, I’m sorry, but it’s hard to take this all so seriously when you are red in the face and screaming with Smiley Face underwear and Santa Socks.”
            “I got a car full of laundry. If I have to work tomorrow I’m coming in commando.” That made Dr K think a bit.
            “Bring it all in Rob, I’ll have the hospital service do it up for you.”
            “You can do that?”
            “Yea, the Linen Services boss owes me a few favors. They will have it done and back here by end of shift.” He gave me a big grin, and I had to chuckle too.
            “Ok, ok, Dr K, but not a word about my crazy boxers gets out, or you will owe me BIG TIME.”
             "Deal," he said.
I have never heard a word about that incident from Dr K, but ever since, every time I pick up my hospital check, the envelope is sealed with a Smiley Face sticker.
 
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!