We may, as a department, be able to get to the point where we discuss potentially embarrassing items professionally. However, today is not that day.

Bee was so upset with her medical dictionary that she came over to my team to trade with me or someone else.

“What’s the problem?” my co-trainee, who sits across from me, asked.....

“There’s a picture of a penis on almost every page!” she replied.

“Excuse me?!” said his mentor

“Is that not the medically accepted term for that part of the body?”

“I didn’t hear what you said. All I heard was one word because I just got off the phone.”

“Is there some other word I should be using?” Bee demanded.

“It depends on what you’re talking about.” The mentor said mildly. But, he was egging her on. You have to know him.

“What I’m talking about is that, no matter what word I’m looking up, there is a picture of the male genitalia in the middle of every page – and most of the time there’s something wrong with it!” Bee protested. And, lets face it, it’s not like she’s easily embarrassed.

“Is this what you were talking about in class the other day?” J. asked, because she had been complaining about it to the Former Sup.

“You’re talking about this in class?” the mentor asked.

“We’re trainees! That’s all we talk about!” Bee protested, meaning all we talk about is medical terminology, where to find good definitions and clear explanations of complicated medical problems.

“Well. I wouldn’t say THAT’S all we talk about.” I said, dryly. Just then, my boss walked by to see J and his mentor laughing so hard they were crying, Bee standing there making a mildly obscene hand gesture, and me looking on innocently holding a medical dictionary.

“Oh, my God, I knew you were gonna be trouble.” My boss said to me, shaking her head as she passed. Thankfully she was laughing too.

Busted.

Guess who wound up with the objectionable medical dictionary?