Are you a published author looking to expand your reach? Find out how Living With Retirement can help you. <Find Out More Here>
Short Story Fiction
Johnson and Johnston (With a T)
Scott A. Gese
Their almost identical names were a recipe for disaster. The disaster was about to commence.
NCI/UnsplashEric Johnson and Eric Johnston (with a T) were good friends. They had known each other since their college days. Some people found their names confusing but the two Eric’s thought it was quite amusing. They realized the confusion was an honest mistake by people not paying attention.
One evening in late October, the two men were returning from a football game where they watched the home team kick butt against its arch rival. They were in a good mood, laughing and joking. Eric Johnson was driving and not paying close enough attention to the road. A drunk driver pulled out in front of him and he t-boned the car at close to forty miles an hour.
The cars were mangled. An amazing emergency crew worked hard at getting both Eric’s stabilized. They were then transported to the local hospital and admitted to the emergency room.
Eric Johnson was unconscious. He had a ruptured spleen, two broken ribs, a head injury and a broken right leg. He had also lost a large amount of blood. Once he was stabilized he would undergo emergency surgery to remove his spleen.
Eric Johnston (with a T) was also unconscious. He also had suffered a head injury. Plus a back injury and a broken left leg.
The doctors in charge were moving fast to get the two Eric’s out of danger.
Their wives were notified and quickly arrived at the hospital. One of the emergency room doctors came out to consult with the two women. He had a copy of their charts and went over the injuries both men had received and how they were currently being treated.
The women asked to see the charts. They examined the personal information on the charts and quickly realized the doctor had mixed the two up. The chart for Mrs. Johnston’s (with a T) husband showed he was about to undergo surgery for the ruptured spleen. The chart for Mrs. Johnson’s husband showed he had the back injury and not the ruptured spleen.
The women quickly pointed out the mistake to the doctor. They were quite adamant about making sure the charts were straightened out and the correct Eric went into surgery.
The doctor assured them it was an honest mistake and that that type of a mix up only happened on television. There were protocols in place to protect the patient and the hospital from such accidents. No such thing would happen here.
After visiting with the two women, the doctor went back to the emergency room. Just to be on the safe side he decided to check the updated charts. As he stood at the foot of the bed and examined the chart of Eric Johnson he noticed a discrepancy. This Eric had a broken right leg, but the chart showed a broken left leg.
He went to check the chart of Eric Johnston (with a T) but found the patient and the chart were gone. “Where’s Eric Johnston?” He asked the charge nurse.
“They just rolled him down to surgery to remove his ruptured spleen.”
© Copyright 2023 by Scott A. Gese All Rights Reserved.
You Might Also Like These Stories
short story fiction / A Hunters Dream
A Hunters Dream / He went looking for elk but found something unexpected. Something that would change his life forever.
short story fiction / Leo and Cleo: Betrayed
Leo the cat thought he had it made, but then Cleo showed up. Suddenly, without a hint, warning or prior notice, Leo was no longer the focus of attention.
The Unwanted Gift
He thought the gift was a joke. He never knew how wrong he was. His uncle had named him in his will as a recipient of a significant sum of money.
short story fiction / World Class Travelers
Clarence and his wife, Eunice had found a unique way of budget traveling and they took full advantage of it.
short story fiction / They Don't Fear Us... But They Should
Satire / The citizens were lied to and they believed it. When they finally figured it out, they were pissed off enough to make things right.
|
Click the Buy Me a Coffee button below to find out how you can help support this site. Thank you. |
Please Share this Website
Add this site to your social media pages by using the social media buttons below. Your friends will thank you for it.
A full length novel by Scott A. Gese
The day Sarah McKinney finally escaped the clutches of her abusive husband, she and her adopted son, Jason, began a perilous journey and a new life on the run. The future hangs in the balance as their unhappy past and the man they left behind threatens to catch up with them.
Our Top Five Most Read Articles/Short Stories for the Month of March
(and Five From the File)
<HERE>
Newest Article
Struggling With Balance Issues Could Become a Downfall for Older Adults
RDNE Stock Project/PexelsAs we age, maintaining balance becomes increasingly vital to our overall well-being. While mental and emotional balance is essential for a fulfilling retirement lifestyle, physical balance plays a crucial role in staying active, independent, and injury-free.<Read The Full Article Here>
Newest Short Story
Anna's Mom
By Scott A. Gese
Stocksnap/PixabayAs Anna rummaged through her mother’s possessions, she found the journals.<Read The Full Story Here>
Newest Classic Film
Kansas City Confidential
(1952) John Payne and Coleen Gray.
Four robbers hold up an armored truck getting away with over a million dollars in cash.