A male patient lies in a hospital bed, an oxygen mask covering his mouth and nose. A young student nurse enters to give him a partial sponge bath, carefully washing his upper body and feet.
Through the mask, the man mumbles, “Nurse… are my privates black?”
Startled and embarrassed, she replies, “I don’t know, sir. I’m only here to wash your upper body and your feet.”
Still anxious, he asks again, struggling for breath, “Nurse… please check. Are my privates black?”
Worried that his stress might raise his blood pressure and heart rate, the nurse finally gathers her courage. She gently pulls back the covers, lifts his gown, and carefully examines him. After a quick but thorough look, she smiles in relief and says, “There’s nothing wrong with them, sir!”
The man removes his oxygen mask, breaks into a slow grin, and replies, “Thank you very much. That was wonderful… but listen very, very closely…”
He pauses and says clearly:
“Are my test results back?”