What The Hell Is Palliative?
Ward sat at the counter drinking coffee. The door to the diner had a bell on it and Ward had become pretty good at guessing who it was entering without turning around, which he could barely do anyhow without spinning completely around on his seat, his neck was that stiff, his lower back that shot. The latest ringing was more of a clang and the sound was superfluous to his guessing as the loud chuckleheads had announced themselves with guffaws from the parking lot. Jimmy and Janice Jones. The stiffness in his neck was caused by stress Dr. Fillmore would say. What do I have to be stressed about, all I do is fish. Caught anything lately? No. Could be that. That's a good one, I feel a breakthrough coming on. Could I get some more of those pills. Those pills are only treating the symptoms, not the cause. So I can have some more? You know, there was an article in the New York Times this morning about the moving away from opioids, which are only palliative, towards more natural therapies, better breathing, diet, posture correction, and isometric exercise regimes. If I take a deep breath now and sit up straight can I have the pills? Just think about it Dr. Fillmore would say as he wrote out a new script for Percocet. Ward Ambler was already cringing and tensing up from what he knew was about to happen. A hard slap on the back announced Jimmy Jones. Good God Wardy, lighten up, you seem so tense. So I've been told. Listen, Warden, Jimmy Jr's. school is having a paper drive this month and we were wondering if you could give up some of the insulation in that palace of yours. I don't use paper for insulation. Oh, that's right, you use party balloons. Mylar. What's that? I use Mylar. Well isn't that what I just said? I guess it is Jimmy. Okay chief, I'm sure you've had your fill of me, let me go join my lovely wife. Not at all Jimmy, I treasure our chats. But as much as it pains me to share you with Janice, I think you are right, you should go to her as she is the more deserving. You're a nut Ambler, but you're my nut, am I right? Never known you to be wrong. Jimmy walked over to join his wife. Ward leaned forward and said to the young waitress, Claire, is he an asshole or is it just me. It's not just you, but you should relax when he comes in, he is not going to change and you have to accept that. Ward retrieved the 140 count bottle of 10 mg Percocet and shaking them said, I do try to relax. Claire looked at him as a mother at a child. Ward, those are only palliative. Are you kidding me? I am not Ward, I am not kidding you at all.
