tcs

I got a letter from an old college friend who's now a hospital administrator in Alpine, Texas. Knowing I was a tandemist, he relayed a story from one of his emergency room nurses. A couple tandem touring in Big Bend NP were brought into the hospital after a minor spill. He was a little sore but otherwise okay, but his wife needed a couple of stitches. The nurse said when she first saw him she thought he was chubby but as she got a better look, she saw that he was one of those people who is just short, stout and solid. He said he was in the delivery business up north and they tried to tandem tour every fall someplace warm to get some relaxation and exercise before the busy holiday season started. He had a bushy gray beard and cut quite an amusing figure in his bike togs and cleated sandals. He began tearing pages out of old magazines and she was about to stop him until she realized that he was folding pages into paper animals for the two children in the waiting room. Quite an eccentric guy they all thought. He handed over an odd health insurance card that required no co-pay, but you see so many these days and the computer accepted it so they didn't think anything about it. When his wife came out she said, "Kris, the doctor said it's minor so we can finish the tour if you're up to it." He told the kids in the waiting room to be good and the couple left. It wasn't until several hours later when accounting was doing paperwork that they noticed the name on the health plan card: K. Kringle, S.N.

Hmm. You don't suppose...