Shiela's perfume was heavenly as her blonde hair brushed against his cheeks. His nose began to twitch and fidget. His frenzied brain screamed out: Concentrate! As his tongue pulled the prize in...he suddenly blasted out a huge sneeze, swallowing the coin.
Immediately he was wracked with uncontrolled coughing. Sheila looked on, horrified. Her fair face bearing the brunt of Horario's mighty blow. Angry, she informed Horatio he owed her 50 cents and stormed out. He had bigger problems. The damn coin was stuck at the bottom of his throat. Alerted by the commotion, Warrior arrived, grabbed a big glass of water, and helped Horatio chug it down. Soon the coughing fit abated. Horatio breathed a sigh of relief. Warrior laughed, then Horatio chuckled and shook his head.
The next day, Horatio ate a lot of bran cereal, hoping to pass the coin. Later that night, the pain began, getting worse with each passing hour. X-rays revealed the coin was stuck, stool piling up behind it.
After surgery, Horatio awoke feeling normal except for surgical uneasiness. He breathed a sigh of relief. What a stupid turn of events, he mused. Curious, he pulled up his gown, then screamed. Nurse Dexie came running. Pointing to the bag attached to his tummy, he burbled, "What in the hell... is that?" "Calm down, Mr. Heeb, it's just a colostomy." "A colosta... what?" he stammered. Dexie gave him a reassuring pat on the head and a sleeping pill. Nighty night.
A week later, he was discharged... a changed man. An Ostomate.
Relaxing at home, he despaired... All that hell...and I didn't even get the coin. His surgeon, Terry, had sent it out for lab analysis.
He tried visiting Sheila. She laughed at him, walking arm in arm with Warrior. He whispered to himself: "This is horrible, mighty horrible indeed."
