i think i’ve got the black lung, pop.

This afternoon one of my residents came in so that I could assist him in filling out some Medicare forms.  I was going through them quickly, answering most of the questions without asking him, as I knew the answers already.  Halfway through one form he stopped me and said “Wait, wait, wait, Miss R., you checked that I don’t in fact have black lung.”

“You’re kidding Mr. B.?  I had no idea you had black lung – how did you get it,” I replied.

Rather inquisitively he responded, “Really Miss R.?  You’re a smart girl, but what do you mean?  Look at me, I AM BLACK and have lungs – what part of that doesn’t make sense???”