Almost time for bloodwork appointment at nearby BioLab Diagnostics crkll pwwhhuuhhh… die agnostics? Should go to church with mom, my name among the prayers of the faithful after the creed, might be awkward. Don’t forget stool sample, check for c. diff. or any other infections.

Hooded wraith in sweatpants down a dozen tree-lined brownstone blocks, professional attire and casual chic lunch break on Atlantic Avenue, wide-eyed contact from a waitress smoking cigarette, spooked through her smoke wisps, continue past city sparrows pecking at stale bagel bits undisturbed as I step by. Arrive and walk into waiting room, sign in at the desk and give them my vials. Made an appointment and arrived late but still have to wait, patients predict this so everyone’s appointment gets pushed back…rrrrggg… someone in the bathroom, cyclosporine maybe doing something but not enough, still have rrrgency. Bathroom slow open older patient with a cane, scurry past and door lock occupied, rrrggglll  not much, but incontinence chance an accident fffshhhhh. Sit down on the pleather chairs and wait for my turn, wish time pass faster… close eyes…

Name called, stand up and walk back to a chair with an attached arm table like an old schoolboy desk, “how are we doing today?”

“Hanging in there, how are you?”

“I’m good thanks. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, but glad you’re here to make sure your doctor has updated information for you.”

Eye contact, smile and nod.

“You’re looking a little pale, did you eat something today?”

“Yes.” No.

 “Alright that’s good. This will just be a sec and we’ll get you out of here.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome honey.”

Five vials dark red, capped and labeled.

“Okay, you’re all set. I hope you feel better soon.”

Stand up light head a little dizzy but I’m okay, and out the door back on to the street, need to eat, bagel? woozy steps, street twisting off kilter, heavy uphill but off to the side, grab the front fence of a brownstone, black iron wrought into meander pattern, hold on and sit down on the stoop…

“Hey are you okay?” stranger, “Yeah, just need a sec,” staywake, don’t faint in public, only a few blocks from home, hand up and nod to reassure them, they continued walking. Look out at a hazy heat distortion, stepcrack breakback, sidewalk tree roots rise in the pavement crumbling concrete as rush of overflow septic sewer flood our street into a river flowing towards the Gowanus canal, sister stand up paddle on childhood bedboard maneuvers around the streetlamp, “Watch out, high levels of enterococcus, I’m looking for mummichogs, do you see any?” Too muddied, not clear, rushing water… – – –

Back. Awake, where? Someone’s stoop. Look down, collect. Balance easier with eyes on fixed object, push a couple times on the concrete, both feet on the same plane, look at the tree, up and force forward, block by block until home, and quickly back down to bed.

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