That’s Not Really Something You Overlook

My mom told me this story about getting the hospital bill after my brother was born, back in the early 1980s. The bill had the normal and expected charges, but many of them were doubled. Upon closer investigation, Mom realized the charges were for [Brother] and for “Baby.” She called the hospital’s billing office to clarify.

Mom: “I’m confused about why I have charges for two babies.”

Biller: “Yes, there are charges for both of your sons: [Brother] and Baby.”

Mom: “I only had one baby.”

Biller: “I show that you had twins.”

Mom: “I definitely didn’t.”

Biller: “My end shows two babies.”

Mom: “No. I would remember if I had twins. And if I did have two babies, I absolutely would have named the other one.”

The duplicate charges were corrected. And for the record, she never gave birth to any twins, and all of my siblings and I were given names promptly.