I remember once
My friends tried
To play a joke on me

He screeched in panic
And she pretended to
Have a large ****
On a rather important vein

I'm still not sure how she
Got it to spurt
It tasted like ketchup.

But panicked me didn't consider
That her blood tasted
So tomatoey

Instead I immediately reached for
A handful of napkins
Applying pressure above her elbow
To stem the blood flow

I'd already begun to stuff
Another dozen napkins against
Her wound with a phone up to my ear

Before my ears caught his
Panicked words of
It's a joke! It's not real

And hers of awkward laughter
And gratitude for my hurried decisions
Concerning her life.

I hung up on 911 with an apology
For wasting their time.
And chuckled, releasing her arm.

Funny! Great barbecue, by the way

I laughed again stepping back.
I guess I missed the punchline.
Again.

The good news
Is that she
Became a nurse.