– It’s been a while.
– Time is of the essence.
– I’ve had a birthday.
– You don’t look a day older.
– I went to the doctor for my annual service and she says I’m in peak condition.
– That’s good.
– Apart, she says, from a couple of things.
– Anything important?
– She says my toleration level is lower than it should be. I’m under 3 on the NHS scale now.
– Oh, they recommend you stay above 3.
– What are you?
– Last time they checked I was 3.2.
– I’m 2.9. She said I have to go back in 3 months, and if it’s still below 3 then I’ll have to go on a course.
– You don’t want that. Those courses are intolerable, apparently. What was the other thing?
– She said I’d looked at the receptionist the wrong way.
– The receptionist who looks like a man?
– Turns out it is a man.
– Well, they ought to make that clear. It’s an easy mistake to make.
– It certainly is an easy mistake to make.
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Martin Stannard
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