The below is a character conversation that follows the third installment of No Mercy General. I thought this would be a cute way to catch up readers on the main event of the previous week's installment to my blog fiction. The punctuations and quirks are intentional. I wanted the piece to read as it would normally be spoken.

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“Hi Hon. I’m so glad you’re still here. I rushed back as soon as we got our coded patient stable. “

“Yeah, he was resting comfortably before I left. But let me tell you, it was touch and go for a minute.

“I am. I really am. I worked the dayshift. Went home, ate, got a few hours sleep, then had to come back and work the grave shift. If it weren’t for this darn lockdown, I’d be out cold buried under a ton of comforters.”

“You’re such a sweetie, coffee and pie sounds great. Oh, could you see if they have any apple cobbler left. I could really go for some about now. “

“Mmmm, this looks good. Humph, two scoops of vanilla, you know I didn’t need that. But thanks, hon. I really appreciate you looking out for me.”

“You heard what?!”

“Ryland and Dr. Lynn went toe-to-toe?”

“You ain‘t said nothing but the gospel. Ryland got a flash fire temper, and you know Dr. Lynn ain’t the scrapper type.”

“I know. Ryland gets on my last nerve too. Just cuz he fine as hell, don‘t mean everyone gonna drop to their knees to please him.”

“Exactly, Dr. Lynn don‘t have a mean bone in his body. Ryland only picks on those he thinks are weak. How much courage do you need to pick on a bookworm?”

“See, you need to stop. You know darn well, you ain‘t stepping out on your Boo anytime soon. Now me, Dr. Lynn could crack open my covers anytime.”

“Ryland? Shoot, that man will make you stoopid. “

“I’m telling you, he must be tapping Irene good. That woman ain’t seen daylight in months.”

“Yeah, whatever. You know it‘s true. You seen how pasty she‘s looking?”

“Dang it, why you have to talk the devil up.”

“Hey Irene, grab a chair sweetie and chill for a bit.”

“What you reading?”

“Oh, is it any good?”

“Weekly installments huh, so when are the next ones due?”