The doctor tried to keep a straight face but failed.
“I understand that,” he said. “But why is the door wide open?”
The attorney’s face turned crimson.
“What?”
“The door,” the doctor repeated. “It’s been open this whole time.”
The attorney twisted his neck just enough to glance toward the hallway.
Sure enough, dozens of people had walked by. A volunteer pushing flowers. A family carrying balloons. Two nurses whispering to each other while trying not to laugh. Even the hospital janitor had tipped his cap on the way past.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” the attorney groaned.
Just then, the head nurse returned, carrying a clipboard.
“Oh good,” she said cheerfully. “You’re still exactly where I left you.”
The attorney exploded.
“Do you have any idea how embarrassing this has been?”
She smiled politely.
“I do.”
“You left me here on purpose!”
“I certainly did.”
“Why would you do that?”
The nurse glanced at the doctor before answering.
“Because for three days you’ve expected everyone else to wait on you, interrupted every member of the staff, and treated people with no respect.”
The attorney opened his mouth to argue.
She continued.
“Funny how twenty minutes of inconvenience suddenly feels like a very long time.”
The room fell silent.
Finally, the attorney sighed.
“You know…”
“Yes?”
“I suppose I may have been… a difficult patient.”
The nurse grinned.
“That’s the first healthy thing you’ve said since you arrived.”
The doctor chuckled.
“Congratulations,” he said. “Your attitude seems to be improving faster than your temperature.”
From that day on, the attorney said “please” and “thank you,” stopped complaining about every little detail, and even brought donuts for the nursing staff on the day he was discharged.
As he left the hospital, the head nurse waved and called after him, “Take care!”
He laughed and replied, “And next time… I’ll read the fine print before following instructions!”