Hollywood (in The Hospital Library)

I had a really painful problem with a kidney stone and was put in the intensive care at a big hospital in Stockholm. After two days the pain was better and the painkillers put me in a better mood. Late at night when I was desperate for a new book to read I found three shelves of library books at the far end of the corridor. There were a lot of adventure novels, romance books and religious stuff but at last I found two books that were acceptable. But when I returned to my room I realized one of them was really a religious drama and the other one was the basis for a film I'd seen. Today I was moved to a department where they specialize in problems with kidneys and those parts of our bodily functions. I had a cup of coffee in the day room and saw new shelves of books. This was a different selection, more crime stories and other good stuff. Suddenly I see "Hollywood", by Charles Bukowski and I see his face on the cover. A book by Bukowski in the hospital library, I couldn't believe it. Perhaps it's not so strange; people who love Bukowski also love to drink beer and if they drink too much they will have problems with their kidneys and they will end up here in this department. This is how they thought when they ordered this book for the library. I am sure. Published in Bukowski Review #2, 2002; I Know What She Will Say, 2003

 

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