Exhibit A

Notes from the daily life of a medical student in Cork. 92.5% fact and 7.5% fiction.

One Last Big Statement

Today I met the brother of an Irish sculptor by the name of John Burke. It came up incidently: the man was in at an outpatient clinic and another student was taking notes on his medical history. At the family history of illness he told us he had a brother who was dead, and that since we were students in cork we might know one of his sculptures. He described it and as it turns out it was my favourite sculpture in the county. My friend was forced to pause in the history taking as I gushed about the sculpture… and then confirmed some urban legends.

“Can I ask? Is it true…? Is it true that he had an unusual…eh… burial?”

He eyed me cautiously, “You mean, is it true that he was buried vertically?”

“And that he wanted to be facing Tipperary and have his arse to the people of Cork because they hadn’t appreciated him?”

“I’ll tell you something now. ‘Tis.”

I sat back in my chair and let all the air go out of my lungs. Amazing.

  1. awoodenpen said: These are my favorite things. These bizarre and wonderful stories about people being lovely weirdos and how each one just points to the indisputable fact that that is our natural state. Thank you for this. “‘Tis.”
  2. aubesoin said: I love this. I once lived in Cork, and reading your vignettes makes me nostalgic and appreciative of its many and sundry charms.
  3. kitey posted this