Pool_2

There was a jumble of reaction between each account. Mac was laughing at Peter who was still comically pecking up. But he pulled his composure back as eyes were now on him, wiping away tears, resettling his breathing. Bingo. From out of nowhere, and with zero hesitation, and to his own total surprise he blurted, "I did a double-take." Silence. Immediate silence. Maybe a gasp or two, but overwhelmingly, dead silence. Anywhere else, this simple sentence would be incomprehensible. But at the table, it was clearly a terse intro to a great unfolding about the one thing no medical professional EVER wants to be caught at. It is not discussed. Like an eighth grader wetting his pants in class, it is pure unforgettable embarrassment, to be forgotten, forever. "Damn!" Mac muttered and thought "Where did that come from?" Even Sumner's cigar went up three notches higher than ever before. "No. No, no ... tell the story... too late, gotta share.. come-on - fess up or Belachnik will sit on you.", barbed prodding from the general din egged him on. Mary Richards crossed herself. "I feel a big one coming." It was Frank Sumner, pulling his cigar free, who asked "Marcus? You? A double- take?" This caught Larry Osten broadside as he was pulled between two simultaneous attractions, the double-take itself and Frank's response. Whoa. Lightening was definitely in the air. Mac's story was innocent enough. But that inner beast knew better. Its timing was perfect. This simple utterance was to change the lives of people he knew, one sitting at this table, one who he didn't know that he wanted to know, one he had known but lost, and the one who he thought he knew most - himself. The beast was out. In premonition of a good tale coming, all leaned forward to ease the teller.