"Everything even the furniture must be checked, um hum that's correct. It's all part of her medical expenses.
I see. Well if she used to smoke in the automobile maybe you could sell it. It's vital that she stop smoking it's going to kill her I'm afraid. The results showed a significant amount of Cancer in various areas of her body.
The entire house will have to be cleaned by a hospital crew. They're trained to look for any carcenogens that maybe present in even the fabric of the drapes. When Gale gets back from treatment I want her to have an environment that is smoke free!
Low birth weight;C.O.P.D,developmental and growth problems,spontaneous abortions,still births,breast cancer,ovarian cancer- Oh hello Gale. The doctor abrubtly broke his sing song list of malidies and greeted gale. Her face could be seen clearly by the monitor. I thought that wearing an air filter around you might make you feel uncomfortable. The doctor picked the pan switch and continued to monitor gale. Gale wheezed when she exhaled and wheezed when she inhaled only to gag on phlegm every time she took a snort of air into her brittle lungs.
Her fingers were lined with a dark stain of nicotine brown almost the same color as furniture wood stain. Her fingernails were linned with soot from cigarettes. "We've got to get you cleaned up Gale; replied the Doctor's voice from the speaker. It's very important that you understand the kind of situation that you are in. Gale, even your clothing is going to have to be removed and discarded. You reek of nicotine! The secound hand smoke value alone is killing not only you but everyone eles that comes within in range of you."
So much for your bed side manner doc. You call yourself a doctor! Your more like a tin plated robot to me. I don't like it one bit and I ain't takin my clothes off in front of no freak peep show camera. You must be one of those kind of freaks. I need a smoke!"
Gale wheezed again.
The phone rang in the room Gale was in. It was her bunky Monty. Monty was about the only person that Gale trusted in the whole world and still she could find falut with him on a saturday night.
Bunky was great for watching wrestling with and drinking beers. It was not a perfect romance, however, to Gale it provided a sordid segway to her life with her 60 cats. Gale lived with over 50 cats, a television that blared wrestling and Monty.
Monty's voice seemed soothing yet urgent.
"There gonna need you to change alot of things in your life Gale, maybe even me although they have'nt said nothing about us livin together, on the count of your, your, health Gale.
Your over the limit with cigarettes. They've done their damage according to the Doctor and I believe it. It's all gonna be alright though. They just need you to follow some simple directions so that you can get better."
"How's my cats, Monty. Gale had started to soften. The gruff exterior began to fade and was replaced by the frightened human being. A human being that might be dying!"
"What ever they tell you to do just do it Gale so that you can get better. The hospital is going to cover everything as part of your medical coverage. Your going to be the first person to get this kind of treatment so your out of pocket expenses will be covered by the hospital.
"Well, is that right. You mean Dr Robot don't you ?
"Listen Gale do what they say I'll be here keeping everything under control and ready for you when your finished."
"Finished? What kind of place is this Monty. This Dr is some kind of robot or a peeping tom with his electronic voice and all these gadgets and camera's.
They want me to take my clothes off in here and I say that they're crazy for that one! You know me Monty I don't show much affection but I'm not foolin around and making any videos or sex films in here!"
" I don't think that it's anything more than a high tech way of examining you Gale. Listen what you got you could spread to others and thats why they quarenteened you in that medical examination room. They need to get rid of everything that might be linked to ,,,
Monty paused his voice broke as if he were very upset. Undaunted he continued. I should have stopped you from smoking years ago, but you were like that when I met you and I did'nt want to change you. Besides we've all got bad habits who would I be to judge. It's the same with the Cats. Most people would have thought that you were nuts or something living with all these animals but I.."
"Don't say anything about my babies;cried Gale and disconnected the phone.
.