In the recovery room <br />my sister held up <br />the bottle of Afrin nasal spray. <br />“This saved me! ” she exclaimed, <br />kissing the red letters <br />printed on white plastic. <br />“Ma, what’s with you? ” <br />asked Navin, her 12 year old son. <br />“When I was waiting <br />to go on the operating table <br />I couldn’t breath <br />because my nose was stuffed <br />so I sent Howard <br />to buy Afrin <br />and spritzed up <br />ten sprays in each nose <br />then I could breathe! <br />I didn’t fear to suffocate.” <br />“Ma, you’re talking like a dope addict.” <br />“A lot you know! <br />while your little sister, Annie, was coming <br />into the world <br />I gave good sprays <br />up the nose, ” she said kissing <br />the plastic bottle once again.” <br />“When you comin’ home, ma? ” <br />asked Navin. “I’m starving.” <br />“I’ll buy you a slice of pizza, ” I said. <br />“One slice! Get real, Steve.” <br />“Don’t you want to see your new sister, ” my sister asked Navin. <br />“Is she going someplace? ” he said walking towards the door. <br />I found a pizza parlor <br />a block away and ordered a pie. <br />Navin quickly devoured four slices, <br />then belched. Kids were playing <br />video games so he asked for a few dollars <br />in change <br />which I gave him <br />and as I watched these youngsters <br />I wondered what Annie <br />would be like at their age, <br />and what she would say <br />as she watched my coffin <br />being lowered into the ground. <br />“Hey, Navin, ” <br />I called out. “When I croak <br />whatta you gonna <br />say at my funeral? ” <br />“Depends what kinda food they got there.”<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-true-meaning-of-our-birth-and-death/
