A group of friends who all
attended the same church wanted to get together on a regular basis,
socialize, and play games. They would meet in each home in rotation and
the residents of that house were to provide a meal.
When it came time for Al and Janet to be the hosts, Janet wanted to do
something special. She decided to have mushroom-smothered steak. But
when she checked at the local greengrocer she was shocked at the cost of
their mushrooms. Regretfully she told her husband, "Mushrooms are out.
They're too expensive."
He said, "Why don't you go down in the back paddock and pick some of
those mushrooms. There are plenty down near the creek." She said, "No,
some wild mushrooms are poison."He said, "Well, I see rabbits eating
them and they don't seem to suffer any ill effects." So Janet decided to
give it a try.. She picked a basket full, then washed, peeled and
sliced them for her smothered steak.
Then she went out on the back verandah and gave Ol' Spot (the dog) a
dish of the mushrooms. Ol' Spot ate every bite. All morning long, Janet
watched Ol' Spot and the wild mushrooms didn't seem to affect him, so
she decided to use them.
The meal was a great success. After everyone had finished, they
relaxed, socialised, and played '21' and dominos. But then a neighbour
knocked on the door and said, Mrs Williams I am sorry to be the bearer
of bad tidings but Ol' Spot is dead." Janet went into hysterics.
After she finally calmed down, she called the doctor and told him what
had happened. The doctor said, "That's bad, but I think we can take care
of it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quickly as
possible. We'll give everyone enemas and we will pump out everyone's
stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep them calm.
"Soon an ambulance arrived. The paramedics and the doctor had their suitcases, syringes, and a stomach pump.
One by one, each person was taken into the bathroom and given an enema. Then his or her stomach was pumped out.
After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said, "I think everything will be fine now," and he left.
They were all looking pretty weak as they sat around the living room.
The neighbour, who had stayed at the house through all the drama, sank
into a seat beside Janet.
"You know," she said" that fellow who ran over Ol' Spot never even stopped."
