Hilo Days: The Perfect Incentive

There are both upsides and downsides to being the son of a doctor. Most are upsides, but there is one downside in particular that I will never forget. From my former Hilo Days website, here's what I'm talking about.

Hilo Days: The Injections

Dad was a doctor. You already know that. It was okay. The family always got a lot of respect, and we got a lot of kids named after us.

But there was a down side. First of all, we could never fake sickness just to stay out of school. Dad knew all the tricks. Worst of all, Dad always had a supply of those dreaded hypodermic injections waiting in his ever-present black bag.

Our booster shots were always up-to-date – without fail. One good thing was we never had to leave the house and torture ourselves in a doctor's crowded waiting room, endlessly waiting for the inevitable words: "This won't hurt a bit."

I remember sitting down many times at the kitchen table at Obachan's house and being presented with some options:

• "You're feeling sick? I'm going to have to give you an injection!" I went to school.
• "You better listen to your mom, or I'm going to give you an injection!" I listened to Mom.
• "You better eat your liver, or I'm going to give you an injection!" I ate my liver (but I hate it to this day).
• "You better stop teasing your sister, or I'm going to give you two injections!" I was an angel.

You get the idea.