Harold Mire had finally agred with Ethel in early 1988 that he did have a high frequency hearing loss, and it was probably caused by the chain saw, the ait compressor pump, the lawn mower, the rototiller, and a bunch of other noisy machinery, beginning with the bun extruder in the baker years ago.
Then last month, during his brother Bill's visit, Harold heard Bill say he was going to send his dog to college.
"That Mutt?" Harold Said.
Ethel interpreted, as she had begun to do: "He said his daughter was going to colorado, Harold." Harold usually got the cononants right anyway.
But today in 1988 something new developed: Harold was at the cafe for the first time in weeks and at one point in the free-for-all conversation he said, "Tou must've brought the corn along."
And Blaine said, "What's this about a muslin wrapped arm?"
And Don said, "Did you sprain it? you do seem to favor it."
Harold repeated what he had said, but he didn't say what he thought: now, evidently, he he had high frequency speaking loss, too.
Back home, Harld told Ethel she'd better think about trading him in. She had him name the men at the table and then she said, " They're all farmers and all about your age. Chances are they have high frequency hearing losses, too. That's what noisy tractors will do. and like you, Harold, they probably won't wear ear protectors around loud machinery to keep it from getting worse."
"It's a lot of trouble, they get in the way," Harold said.
"What? You're eating truffles to lose wieght?"
"I said, 'Okay, okay, I'll make an effort to wear the protectors.'"
Then last month, during his brother Bill's visit, Harold heard Bill say he was going to send his dog to college.
"That Mutt?" Harold Said.
Ethel interpreted, as she had begun to do: "He said his daughter was going to colorado, Harold." Harold usually got the cononants right anyway.
But today in 1988 something new developed: Harold was at the cafe for the first time in weeks and at one point in the free-for-all conversation he said, "Tou must've brought the corn along."
And Blaine said, "What's this about a muslin wrapped arm?"
And Don said, "Did you sprain it? you do seem to favor it."
Harold repeated what he had said, but he didn't say what he thought: now, evidently, he he had high frequency speaking loss, too.
Back home, Harld told Ethel she'd better think about trading him in. She had him name the men at the table and then she said, " They're all farmers and all about your age. Chances are they have high frequency hearing losses, too. That's what noisy tractors will do. and like you, Harold, they probably won't wear ear protectors around loud machinery to keep it from getting worse."
"It's a lot of trouble, they get in the way," Harold said.
"What? You're eating truffles to lose wieght?"
"I said, 'Okay, okay, I'll make an effort to wear the protectors.'"
