Time: Recent late afternoon
Place: Waterville, small VT village
Persona: My friend Caroline
Action: Caroline dripping sweat
Nobody nearby, she strips clothing, leaps
into river, enjoys a refreshing swim
Further action: Caroline emails me
knows I love to swim and will be amused
titles her email “Emergency Swim”
Mistaken action: Wrong email address
Unexpected recipient: ER, Illinois hospital.
Action: Swift callback from COVID nurses
alerted by word “Emergency”
Result: Error explained, nurses howl with
laughter, tell Caroline she’s made their day
Conclusion: Friend calls me, shares story
swears every word TRUE!
2020 Jacqueline Jackson
This article appears in Fall Home & Garden 2020.
