They have put designer benches in the waiting area in the corridor of the hospital building. They have some interesting features. While we were taking round of different wards today, suddenly there was a crash. We all turned around to see what it was. The joint between two halves of a bench had given way and the occupant f the seat was on the floor.
"These joints always give way" one resident doctor said. I knew that. There were a number of such benches along the corridors on all floors of the building. I had thought of sending some to the psychiatry department as their couches for psychoanalysis sessions.
"Let us call this casualty prone area" I said.
"Yes. We should put up boards saying 'sit here at your own risk' " my Registrar said.
We moved on. Then we came across another such bench, and suddenly knew what the purpose of such benches was. At the low end of the bench was a toddler, sitting comfortably with its feet reaching the floor. At the other end was an adult, his feet also reaching the floor comfortably.
"These benches are designed so that a family with members of different heights can sit together, without the feet of shorter people dangling in the air" I said. "What I do not understand is why they did not ship the benches in this final form? Why put them up straight and let them break at the joints one fine day?"
"The idea is probably let people find a bonus unexpectedly" suggested someone.
