Doctor's Loo

in the doctor's loo

I was waiting a long time
for mom
in the reception area.

nature called.
I answered.

the bathroom was small.
very small.
so small that I had to
slink sideways
past the sink
and then maneuver &;#8230;.
even so, the sink almost
covered half of the toilet.
the whole room was
not much bigger than
a telephone booth.

being able to p**s around a corner
would have been a very useful talent to have.

I was standing there,
trying my best,
and noticed an official-looking sign
over the toilet:
"Occupation of This Room by
More Than
24 Persons
Is
Strictly Prohibited
By Order of the
Fire Department."

I started laughing.
loud. very loud.

the walls were thin. very thin.

when I came out,
still laughing,
the receptionist
wanted to know
what was so funny.

That sign is the best joke I have seen in years, I told her.

joke? she asked.
what sign? she asked.

I explained.

oh, she said.

it was not a joke.
it was a genuine Fire Department sign.

I almost split my gut laughing.

now the whole office
was looking at me.
patients,
nurses,
the doctor came out of the
examining room with mom.
they all wanted to know
what was so funny.

I explained.

no one laughed.

we left.

as I write this,
I am still laughing
so hard I am crying.

hey, you be the judge.