Azir began telling his story to Michael, who sat back drinking his milk eating his tiramisu listening attentively as his dark eyed friend spoke "Well you know I left the hospital and opened my own pharmacy/family clinic last year?"
Michael nodded saying "Yes, the one on the south side."
"Yeah, over by Douglas Park near the Mt. Sinai Hospital district." Azir added picking up the thread of his tale once more "Well, you know I had a partner, old Doctor Crenshaw..," Azir paused with a look of lamentation "Well.., I've just come from his funeral, that's where I've been all day." Azir sighed pushing his half eaten slice of pizza away from him.
Michael was stunned, as his friend was now only just mentioning it. "My condolences to you Azir, I am sorry to hear that." he said with great sympathy.
"Thanks Mike, that means a lot comin' from you." Azir managed a bit of a smile, then the terrible look of sadness washed over his face again "Yeah, he stroked out at his desk at the clinic, I came across his body slumped over..," Azir recalled the day in his mind's eye. "At least he died doing what he loved..," here a brief pause "You know he had been practicing medicine for fifty years!" another pause for reflection "He was 73 years old! Damn I hope I don't live to be that old! Can you imagine?"
Michael did not know what to say to that, for he himself hoped to live to be a ripe old age surrounded by grandchildren and a loving, caring wife. However, the Fates had a different idea about his certain future. "So what will you do now? Close up shop for a while?" Michael tried to move the subject of the matter forward and not dwell upon the death of one dead doctor.
"Well, I'm not sure, what to do.., but, I do have bills to pay," here he paused then added "Finding a doctor, to run the clinic, will take sometime.., unless." Azir leaned forward with a serious stare.
"Unless?" Michael asked knowing full well what Azir was about to ask.
"Unless, you would like to take Dr.Reardon's advice and become a General Practitioner. Run the clinic for me, treat the patients, write the prescriptions.You could still practice medicine, in a non-surgical setting, still make money to pay off your loans, and keep your good name as a physician, this would also help to rehabilitate your reputation! I would get to stay open and take care of my kids, my wife, and my girlfriends. It's a win/win situation!"
"Listen I don't have the best bedside manner with patients." Michael confessed.
"Mike, buddy, what you may lack in bedside manner, you make up for in good looks and charm. And with good looks and charm you will always be in high demand!" Azir complimented his handsome friend.
Michael said nothing, the main contention of thought that came to his mind was working on the south side, with the poor and less well educated of Chicago's socio-economically challenged population. Michael was well aware of the gangs, drugs, violence, rapes and murders on that side of town, but he also knew that sick people needed help no matter where they come from. "Azir, listen, what can I say. I'll give it some thought, but as for now, let's box this pizza up and you can drive me home. I just want to take a nice hot shower, a few Nembutal and sleep for the next two days.
"Alright, but just promise you will give it some earnest thought. We should really make this happen Mike, I'm looking forward to working with you!" Azir smiled shaking Michael's hand across the table as if they had just struck up a deal.
Michael nodded saying "Yes, the one on the south side."
"Yeah, over by Douglas Park near the Mt. Sinai Hospital district." Azir added picking up the thread of his tale once more "Well, you know I had a partner, old Doctor Crenshaw..," Azir paused with a look of lamentation "Well.., I've just come from his funeral, that's where I've been all day." Azir sighed pushing his half eaten slice of pizza away from him.
Michael was stunned, as his friend was now only just mentioning it. "My condolences to you Azir, I am sorry to hear that." he said with great sympathy.
"Thanks Mike, that means a lot comin' from you." Azir managed a bit of a smile, then the terrible look of sadness washed over his face again "Yeah, he stroked out at his desk at the clinic, I came across his body slumped over..," Azir recalled the day in his mind's eye. "At least he died doing what he loved..," here a brief pause "You know he had been practicing medicine for fifty years!" another pause for reflection "He was 73 years old! Damn I hope I don't live to be that old! Can you imagine?"
Michael did not know what to say to that, for he himself hoped to live to be a ripe old age surrounded by grandchildren and a loving, caring wife. However, the Fates had a different idea about his certain future. "So what will you do now? Close up shop for a while?" Michael tried to move the subject of the matter forward and not dwell upon the death of one dead doctor.
"Well, I'm not sure, what to do.., but, I do have bills to pay," here he paused then added "Finding a doctor, to run the clinic, will take sometime.., unless." Azir leaned forward with a serious stare.
"Unless?" Michael asked knowing full well what Azir was about to ask.
"Unless, you would like to take Dr.Reardon's advice and become a General Practitioner. Run the clinic for me, treat the patients, write the prescriptions.You could still practice medicine, in a non-surgical setting, still make money to pay off your loans, and keep your good name as a physician, this would also help to rehabilitate your reputation! I would get to stay open and take care of my kids, my wife, and my girlfriends. It's a win/win situation!"
"Listen I don't have the best bedside manner with patients." Michael confessed.
"Mike, buddy, what you may lack in bedside manner, you make up for in good looks and charm. And with good looks and charm you will always be in high demand!" Azir complimented his handsome friend.
Michael said nothing, the main contention of thought that came to his mind was working on the south side, with the poor and less well educated of Chicago's socio-economically challenged population. Michael was well aware of the gangs, drugs, violence, rapes and murders on that side of town, but he also knew that sick people needed help no matter where they come from. "Azir, listen, what can I say. I'll give it some thought, but as for now, let's box this pizza up and you can drive me home. I just want to take a nice hot shower, a few Nembutal and sleep for the next two days.
"Alright, but just promise you will give it some earnest thought. We should really make this happen Mike, I'm looking forward to working with you!" Azir smiled shaking Michael's hand across the table as if they had just struck up a deal.
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