Me: So what's the story with my throat?
Dr. Burt (my ENT): It's bright red.
Me: I know that.
Dr. Burt: I think you have an infection. Your allergies are also out of control, making everything worse. Have you ever had a Cortisone 88 shot?
Me: No. What are the side effects?
Dr. Burt: None of my other patients have ever complained. I've been having to give a lot of them out this season, and you definitely need one.
I got the allergy shots in one arm and the Cortisone 88 in the other. I then picked up some freshly-picked cherries (both bing and Rainier) from a stand at a nearby orchard, then went to the Walgreen's off Meridian Ave. in San Jose because a) the chain already has my health plan and bottling preference info and b) it's close to Grand Central Starport. Good thing, too; the wait for my prescription to be filled was at least 45 minutes.
I hung out with