A Sbort Short Story by Elaine Carlson

"To Make A Long Story Short …"

"I am in a rush," I say. "I will get back."

I am a little shocked at myself for cutting off my mother. I wasn't rushed at all but I didn't want to listen to the ten thousand words she would use to tell me her short version. She will tell others so I can depend on someone to give me a recap.

I work in the ER. I am the first person walk-in patients see. A cousin once said the biggest part of my job is giving out the forms that need to be filled out and telling people where the bathrooms are. That isn't really true. I always have to decide if I should tell a patient to take a seat or to go to triage. You could say I triage for the triage nurse.

I now have an hour before I have to leave for my shift. I am glad I have time to wash the dishes and do a little pickup. I turn on the radio to the news. Its always good to find out if something really bad happened on any of the freeways which will mean a crazy night at the ER.

A woman came in with a little girl. She was hysterical when she told me her child took some Tylenol. I immediatley routed her to the triage nurse. Several others came in with cuts and one guy looked like he broke his arm. He said he had fallen. Overall it wasn't that busy a night.

I get off work at six-thirty. I decide to go to the all night diner to get breakfast. I order a waffle and some coffee. It is kind of funny because I know coffee has caffeine in it but I find it relaxing after work to have several cups. And the coffee is good there.

Right away when I get home I check my email and see Renee sent me a message. I bring it up.

"Mother would like to have Thanksgiving. She said you can spend Christmas with Roger's family. Also Mom said Baby Sheila isn't such a baby anymore --- she started to walk."

I am grateful my sister is good at summing up what my mother says.