“Monkstown Hospital by Stewart Stafford My first time away from Mam, Tonsillectomy at six years old, Teddy bear fights Action Man, Pinball Pocketeer for company. Silver torch lights the dark hours, A miniscule pack of playing cards, A made-up game played undercover, My best guess of what picture follows. An older man awaits surgery too, Seeing that I'm alone and scared, He draws pictures to amuse me or, We watch "funnies" in the TV room. Waking from the operation in the bed, Congealed blood covers my pyjamas, My mother makes her shock known, We go home for my First Communion. © Stewart Stafford, 2022. All rights reserved.” MemoryHospitalsMentorChildhood MemoriesChildhood TraumaHospitalHomesicknessHomesickOperationTonsils Author:Stewart Stafford
“I forgot to take off the inside lens cap cap... P.S. I quit." Dad threw off the covers and reached for his bathrobe. For the first time in two weeks he spoke: "I'll track him down to the ends of the earth," he croaked. "I'll take a blunt hook and pull his tonsils out by the byjingoed roots, just like I promised him. He doesn't quit. He's fired.” HumorCamerasTonsilsCheaper By The Dozen Author:Frank Gilbreth Jr.