Free Appointment in Samarra by John O'Hara

be sure. If the case was a skull fracture and Dr. English knew about it in time, he would say to the one man in the world he hated most: Say, Doctor Malloy, I ve ordered the operating room for five o clock. Man brought in from Collieryville with a compound fracture of the skull. I think it s going to be very interesting, and I d like you to come up and see it if you have time. And Mike Malloy, in the old mule-ambulance days, would be polite and tell Dr. English he would be very glad to. Dr. Malloy would get into his gown and follow Dr. English to the operating room, and by saying I think this, Doctor English and I think that, Doctor English, Dr. Malloy would direct Dr. English in trephining the man on the table. But that was in the old days, before Dr. English overheard one of the surgical nurses saying: Trephine this afternoon. I hope to God Malloy s around if English is going to try it. The nurse later was dismissed for being caught undressed in an interne s room, a crime of which she had been guilty many times, but which had been overlooked because she knew at least as much medicine as half of the men on the staff, and more surgery than several of the surgeons. But even without her assistance Dr. English continued to do surgery, year after year, and several of the men he trephined lived. The dismissal of that nurse had one effect: Dr. Malloy never again spoke to Dr. English. Need I say more? Dr. English said, in telling his wife of Malloy s strange behavior. III One look at his father told Julian that the old man had not heard anything about the scene in the smoking room of the country club. The old man greeted him about as usual, with Merry Christmas thrown in, but Julian expected that. He knew there was nothing wrong when he saw the old man s mustache flatten back and the crow s feet behind his shell-rim spectacles wrinkle up in the smile that he saved for Caroline. Well, Caroline, said the doctor. He took Caroline s right hand in his own and put his left hand on her shoulder. Help you with your coat?
    Thanks, Father English, she said. She put her packages down on the hall table and was helped out of her mink coat. The old man took it to the closet under the stairs and put it on a hanger. Haven t seen you in I guess it must be two weeks, he said. No. Christmas preparations
    Yes, I know. Well, we didn t do very much in the way of shopping. I thought it over and I told Mrs. English, I said I think checks would be more acceptable this year, wherever we can
    Doc-tor! came a voice. Oh, there she is now, said the doctor. Merry Christmas! Caroline called out. Merry Christmas, Mother, shouted Julian. Oh, you re here, she replied, and appeared at the top of the steps. I was just about to say we ought to call you up. It must have been a good party at the club. Julian saw his father s expression change. Mrs. English came downstairs and kissed Caroline, and then Julian. Now let s all have a nice cocktail, said Mrs. English, and then we can tell Ursula to start serving while everything s still hot. You two are so late. What kept you? Did you really get in so late last night? How was the dance?
    I couldn t get the car started, said Julian. Cold.
    What? said the old man. Couldn t get it started? I thought that apparatus you put in your garage, I thought
    It wasn t in the garage. I left it out all night, said Julian. Our driveway was blocked, said Caroline. We re out in real country. It was drifted as high as the roof.
    Was it? said the doctor. I never knew it to drift that high out where you are. Remarkable. Well, I s pose a Martini. Martini, Caroline?
    Fine for me, said Caroline. What about you, Julian?
    Now, Caroline, said the doctor. He ll drink anything, and you know it.
    See our tree? said Julian s mother. Such a skimpy little thing, but they re so much trouble. I like a spruce, but they re so much trouble I don t think it s worth it when there aren t any children in the house.
    We have a small tree, too, said Caroline. When Julian