My patient is lying on his bed, calmly resting in the middle of the day. He wears his thick-rimmed glasses just like mine, his tatted arms holding up his reading material.
'Hey, come on in.'
I entered the room after knocking and the first thing I noticed was the comic book on his hand. I've seen the glimpse of the title, quite new to me, but I kept silent.
He slowly put it aside on his right side of the bed. I asked him the usual 'nursey/medical' stuff. He's feeling alright and better now, so that's good.
That IS my cue.
Me: 'So, I didn't know you're into comics. I know you got tattoos all over your limbs and whatnots, but THAT is awesome.'
[I'll give him the name 'Stan' just for confidentiality's sake. Yeah, too nursey i know.]
Stan: Oh yeah, I've been into comics for a long time now. I just love the feeling of reading new comic books. What titles are you into?
Me: Well, if we're talking about mainstream ones, I prefer Marvel over DC really. But I also grew up on Image and Dark Horse and some indie titles.
Stan: Yeah, I'm also a Marvel fan.
Me: That's really awesome. So I wonder how many comics you own by now? I hope the wife is cool with it!
Stan: Well, yeah. That's another thing. The wife gladly just went with my hobby really, the comics not the tattoos! (laughs lightly) But if I kept them all, My house would be filled to the brim! Either I gave this to away to friends or to my brother. This, I'd give it to you if you want.
Me: What? No way. Don't worry, but thanks for the offer.
Stan: No seriously it's okay. I'll be finishing soon, I've got the next issue here already. There's always a nice feel to check the new titles every Wednesday on the comic store. Digital versions are there, and the prices are creeping up but the feel of the print and crisp papers and colours are just something you can't replace.
He gave me his comic book as I ended my shift. Winter World. It's beyond the comic book that he gave me that night. It's the life lessons he gave me free of charge.
I wished him the best and for a speedy recovery.
+++++
You know you lived your life if you're a 50ish year old family man who earned his tattoos and read his comics to pass the day away.
I might have seen my future in goal in real-life. Conquer the world, one tattoo and comic at a time.
++++++
Note: More Ward Dialogues in the past -> here.
You're still with real comics while most of the guys here is reading Manga. I love comics too when I was still young but I don't have a lot of exposure. So I ended up with talagog comics lang. I remember that whenever there's a newspaper before, the first thing I do is check the comics part.
ReplyDeleteMy love for comics was rekindled only a few years back. I miss my childhood comics, especially when I left them and handed them down to my nephews and nieces. Although I started early with tagalog comics! Ilove them especially 'Funny Komiks', it was brilliant! Then crossed over to comics section of the newspapers, and here I am, nothing
Deletechanged much today! ;)