“Fall” by George Staley

"Fall"

As soon as my wellness dr. enters the room,

I say,

“We need to discuss falls on the questionnaire.”

“OK,” she says, “especially any in the last year.”

I tell her I fell twice.

   Once inside the airport terminal when a guy

	   cut me off and I went down.

    Also, on a snowy day, I slipped off the curb

     outside the swim center.

“Do these constitute falls?”

“No,” she says, “falls for no apparent reason

	getting out of bed 

	coming around a corner

	walking to the bathroom.”

I ask, “Does a fall 46 yrs. ago count?”

“Probably not,” she says.

I like her answer.

Would it matter

	if she knew it was a fall from grace

	on Monday, January 19, 1976?

Or did she, too, have such a fall yrs. ago?

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