At the restaurant

One Saturday evening, Regardless of the weather, At the restaurant “At Peter’s,” Three doctors met. And gathered around the table Those who had known each other before. A dietitian, a fat pig, Weighing a ton, that’s for sure! Old Dr. Aibolit, Sitting there in his arctic fox fur. The speech therapist was with them too— He lisped and twitched his face. These wretched doctors Drank themselves hoarse until morning. The question was as sharp as a pin: How could they set up a hospital— One that would Draw crowds of people flocking to them. The dietitian says: “We need a fancy look So that the cool folks Will come to us. Yeah, yeah, yeah! We don’t need any bums Just enough to buy me a sandwich.” The speech therapist replies: “Let’s charge an admission fee. We’ll set up a face check at the entrance And leave the gentlemen without their pants.” Well, old Aibolit, He can barely sit up straight. And he shouts, scratching behind his ear: “What, am I going to have to crawl Into cows’ bellies again And clean out their worms?!” The nutritionist choked, The speech therapist grew wary, And replied to the vet: "I’ll cure just about anyone! Whether it’s a cow or a chimera, I’ll teach them to read Baudelaire." "My friend, you’re a hero! I suggest—you and I Need to have a whiskey right away And make a quick exit While old Aibolit Is either dead or asleep.” The speech therapist glanced out the window He thought for a moment Then replied to his friend: “You’re right—what’s the point Of opening a hospital for us, Working there, wearing ourselves out. What am I, the Vet Doctor’s workhorse?!” He shouted in the heat of the moment. Aibolit woke up with a start, Blinked his glass eye, Groaned and stood up abruptly. He cracked his back, farted, and fell down. “He died in the prime of his life!” says the Speech Therapist. “Now we have a reason to commemorate him— they won’t be able to accuse us of not showing up for work.” One Saturday evening, two doctors were leaving. Still grumbling about something, About how their plan had fallen through. Well, we’ll answer boldly: We don’t need such freeloaders! And that, in itself, is a victory. This is just a story, But there are people like that among us...