Ms. Etta's Fast House Read Online Free

from the other side. He poked his head in the doorway and almost had it knocked off in the process, as a wooden ice bucket, hurled in his direction, slammed against the door.
    â€œDon’t forget the ice this time, M.K.,” a man’s deep voice shouted with exuberance from inside the oversized room. The ice bucket bounced off the solid oak door and ricocheted into the capable clutches of M.K. Phipps, who had once been an All-American tailback at Howard University.
    â€œBill, you just make sure to save me a seat at the table. I’ve been telling everybody back in Washington how I couldn’t wait to get you tangled up in a card game. I’m just the man to take some starch out of that pumped up ego you got going on and lighten your pockets while I’m at it.”
    M.K. Phipps was still as fit as ever, after serving two years in the Army, and wore the same wide-toothed grin Delbert remembered seeing in newspaper photos. William Browning was taller with a slighter build, a paper-sack brown complexion and a full head of curly hair. He’d had the good fortune of assisting in a successful kidney operation, one of the first performed by a colored surgeon. William’s name was included in a national journal article discussing the ground-breaking procedure. William Browning, M.D. became an overnight star in the medical community.
    â€œM.K. Phipps, well, I’ll be. I’m Delbert Gales.” When Delbert shook hands with the man who was built like a monument of steel, he understood why most would-be football foes feared going head to head with this one time hero of the gridiron. Delbert’s hand disappeared in the man’s colossal grasp.
    â€œDelbert, nice to meet cha’,” M.K. beamed. “The boys are inside. Hop in and make yourself at home but keep an eye on Bill. He’s a much better card cheat than he is at suturing, so watch out for his slow finger drag on the shuffle. Don’t get distracted with his high-toned signifying or you’ll miss it when he’s dealing off the bottom.”
    â€œHeyyy! I resemble that remark,” trailed M.K.’s offbeat comment, as William stepped to the doorway to get a look at who was holding up the card game.
    â€œBill, take care of Gales here,” M.K. said, as he started down the long hallway. “Delbert, I’d keep one hand on my wallet, if I were you.”
    â€œDon’t take stock in anything that comes out of that kickball-sized head of his. M.K.’s been losing money to me for years and I’m not so sure he don’t like it that way. Ain’t nobody that bad at cards without trying to be.” William picked up the bag and carried it into the room.
    â€œThanks, uh ... William,” Delbert replied awkwardly, having been thoroughly impressed with papers William published regarding early studies on Sickle Cell Anemia.
    â€œCall me Bill. Come on in and meet the boys.” He sat the leather luggage down and whistled loudly, cowboy-on-the-open-range style, above the noise spurred by numerous conversations all going on at once. Delbert didn’t know what to make of this conglomerate of gifted young talent, exercising an opportunity to yuck it up with other noted contemporaries. Eventually, the noise subsided enough for Bill to make a swooping introduction. “Fellas, this here is Delbert Gales, the boy-genius from Texas we’ve been hearing so much about. Make him feel at home and save some of his money for me.” Hearty chuckling rang throughout the room. As soon as it occurred to Delbert that his accomplishments had been discussed, a strange but warm feeling of fraternity swept over him. In that instance, he felt like one of the fellows, even though he’d still have to find his place among them. Along with the men in that room, he would be tried, tested and twisted beyond anything he could have imagined. Seven out of one hundred and twenty-two medical students were selected for