MY BROTHER came home from college for a visit, and my mother treated him to dinner at an expensive restaurant. Brian has an insatiable appetite, and after he ordered a seafood appetizer, prime rib, salad, dessert and coffee, Mom began to regret her offer. When the check arrived, she asked my brother if he would be willing to help with the tip. "Sure," he replied. He calculated 15 percent of the tab and handed the bill back to her. -- Contributed to Reader's Digest "Life In These United States" by Susan Dean

IT WAS an unusually hectic evening at the emergency clinic where I work. The doctor on duty was being simultaneously bombarded with questions, given forms to fill out and sign, and even asked for his dinner order. I was in the next room, cleaning up a newly sutured wound, when I realized the doctor hadn't given instructions for a bandage. I poked my head out the door and asked, "What kind of dressing do you want on that?" "Ranch," he replied.

-- Contributed to Reader's Digest "All In a Day's Work" by Brenda Todd

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2001