Flash, Very Short Story

Do No Harm

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Well, look at that! It’s my turn in the hot seat
 place of honor at Friday Fictioneers as the
lovely Rochelle has chosen my photo as this
week’s head-scratcher inspiration. I’m tingling
with fear anticipation at the ridiculous masterful
100 word stories that await us!  Let’s get the show
on the road, shall we? This is not my photo and my flash.

© Mine

This was once the flourishing office of esteemed cardiologist-plant enthusiast, Dr. Henry Robert. “Do no harm” was his oath so it was distressing to see his prized philodendron languishing.

After much thought, a radical hypothesis took root. Donning surgical gloves, Henry injected the plant with digitalis to increase the flow of water and nutrients. Overnight the plant doubled in size.

The doctor was thrilled, albeit ignorant of the obsolete fact that unprotected cutaneous contact with digitalis resulted in fatal cardiac arrest within hours. This could explain the alarming decline in his practice.

Henry knew it was time to leave town….permanently.

NAR©2025
100 Words

This is “Doctor Robert” by the Beatles

11 April 2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

56 thoughts on “Do No Harm”

    1. Thanks, Rochelle. That’s not one of the Beatles better known songs but it’s a good one about the band’s ENT who freely dispensed more than decongestant and ear wax softener.
      The photo, as you know, was taken in my doctor’s waiting room; I can assure everyone my doc is nothing like the homicidal Dr Robert in my story!

      Shalom to you, my friend!

      🕊️

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      1. I had Revolver on vinyl back in the day. It wasn’t until I decided to collect all the albums on CD that I heard Dr. Robert. The British cuts had different songs than the American LP’s…until Sgt Pepper. But I’m sure you know this. 😉

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    1. That pic really is from my dr’s waiting room. People were taking pix like they were at a circus sideshow! The woman who cares for the plants didn’t like it when I mentioned the plant would do better if she cut it back but when I finished up with my appointment, I noticed she was trimming it a bit. She gave me a cutting which is now in my sun room with all my other plants. If I should suddenly stop posting, you’ll know it was the plant that did it!

      Thanks, dear Keith!

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  17. FEED ME!!! 🕷🧟‍♂️

    And thus was a little shop of horrors born as Dr. Roberts takes up a new profession, in a new locale, leaving his former patients in a tight spot, as it were…🛢

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    1. As Dr H. Robert always told his friends… ” I am a Dr not a bloody chemist…. ” Then again most laymen and women would know the results of digitalis. Which simply endorsed my belief that there is no accounting for learning. It just went to show Dr Robert was a ridiculously highly paid Quack!!

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      1. Who’s probably chilling on a beach in Argentina right about now …. a fugitive from justice. I’ll try not to write anymore doctor stories, Willow, but with the next phase of my dental odyssey coming up on Tuesday, no promises! 😬😎

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