Mr. Smith was brought to Mercy
Hospital
(a Catholic hospital),
and taken quickly in for coronary surgery.
The operation went
well and, as the groggy man regained consciousness,
he was
reassured by a Sister of Mercy, who was waiting by his
bed.

“Mr. Smith, you’re going to be just fine,” said the nun,
gently
patting his hand. “We do need to know, however, how you intend
to
pay for your stay here. Are you covered by insurance?”

“No,
I’m not,” the man whispered hoarsely.

“Then can you pay in cash?”
persisted the nun.

“I’m afraid I cannot, Sister.”

“Well,
do you have any close relatives?” the nun
questioned
sternly.

“Just my sister in New Mexico,” he volunteered. “But she’s
a
humble spinster nun.”

“Oh, I must correct you, Mr. Smith. Nuns are
not spinsters –
they are married to God.”

“Wonderful,” said
Mr. Smith. “In that case, please send
the bill to my brother-in
-law.”