ETHER
The Hawk West Desk Window 9:40pm
When I was eight
I had My Tonsils & Adenoids out
& answered a nurse’s question
“Do You have a Boy Friend?”
“My Step Brother”
I was told to count backwards from ten
with the Ether Mask on —
I made it to nine
& when I woke up
I sat up
immediately
a nurse came running over
I was put temporarily in a room
with TV’s on the ceiling
& My Mother took Me out
reluctantly
whereupon I threw up at the check-out counter
trying to aim for a proffered garbage can
At Home I feasted on ice water
& mint chocolate chip shakes
& did My school work
with a very nice tutor/babysitter
for ten days
before going back to school
ten pounds lighter
& telling everyone how badly
My Throat hurt
& how much I loved Ice Water
Joanna Gilman Hyde 