Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

AMY TAN
“What about our trip insurance?” Marlena said. “That would
cover it. Unexpected death.”
“I’m sorry to report Bibi didn’t buy any.” Why was Vera apologiz­
ing for my sake? As everyone murmured varying degrees of shock,
dismay, and disgust, I shouted and pounded my fist into my palm to
make my point. But no one could hear me, of course, except Poo­
chini, who perked his ears, raised his nose, and yelped as he tried to
sniff me out.
“Shush,” Harry said, and when Poochini was quiet for five sec­
onds, Harry stuffed another piece of desiccated liver into my dar­
ling’s mouth.
For the record, let me clarify the facts. While I ultimately did not
buy the insurance, I most certainly brought the subject up, at least
twice. I remember specifically that I went over how much extra per
person it was for the insurance, to which Harry had responded with
his usual “Good Lord, that’s outrageous.” What did he mean by
“outrageous”? Did he want me to buy the damn insurance or not? I’m
not some dog he can train by saying, “Good, Bibi. Shush, Bibi,” until
I know what he wants me to do. I then went on to detail the cost for
various plans, from simple trip cancellation, through emergency med­
ical evacuation in a helicopter and transfer to a Western hospital.
I explained the variations in policies on preexisting conditions, and
whether, for example, a broken bone or a bite from a possibly rabid
dog would qualify for evacuation. And who was listening? Nobody
except Roxanne’s half sister, Heidi Stark, who worries about every­
thing. “Bibi, is there malaria at that time of year?” “Bibi, should we
bring anti-venom for snakes?” “Bibi, I read about a woman who got
epilepsy from being bitten by a monkey in Madagascar.” On and on
she went, until Harry put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Heidi,
love, you needn’t be so grim. Why not anticipate an excellent time?”
The trouble was, they all anticipated an excellent time. What was
grim was forgotten; the encephalitic monkeys were shooed away, as
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