"You know, you really don't need anything this strong. I can just use the Novocain. That'll work just fine."

"No, no, I need the strong stuff," insisted Jerry. "J-just, just give me the gas, okay?

"I ... all right, but ..."

"Oh, for Christ sake, Doctor, I'm paying you, now just, just use the gas, man. I swear I need it, I, uh, I can feel the pain, okay?"

It was a complete lie, of course. Jerry felt no pain, but damn, that laughing gas was some tough stuff. Dr. Burnbaum guiltily ordered his assistant to bring it in. "Alicia, we need the gas in here, please. And bring Felicia, too." It tickled Jerry to hear the doctor call in Alicia and Felicia, cause they're names were so similar, but he realized it wasn't really that funny. "O.k., gals, I'm ready. Just relax, okay, Jerry?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, just do your thing, Doc."

The doc put the mask over Jerry, who began to happily drift away. Everything started to feel much better. It was taking effect very quickly. As Burnbaum started to put in the filling, Jerry began to mull it over again. Alicia, Felicia, Alicia, Felicia. "Oh my God, that is so hilarious!" he thought, beginning to realize. How had he not noticed it before? "Alicia, Felicia, ha ha ..."

"Jerry, please don't talk during the procedure. Alicia, up his dose a little bit, here ..." Jerry smiled.

At home, Samantha was very worried. "Dr. Quaig, you've got to help us. I've noticed at least five empty canisters of this stuff."

"How much has he bought? How much has he taken into his system by now ..."

"I don't know, but yesterday, I told him that my uncle Herbert had an infarction in his leg and he wouldn't stop laughing. He just kept repeating the words 'Herbert' and 'infarction'to himself and laughing until he wrapped himself in a blanket and fell asleep under the fireplace. This has got to stop! I mean, he's a real-estate agent for crying out loud and he's missed two weeks of work."

"You've got to understand, Sammy, that it can very difficult to wean oneself off such a highly addictive substance like nitrous ..."

"Please, look, we're getting everyone together today and you're his childhood doctor, it'll really help if you're there."

It pained Dr. Quaig very deeply to learn of the suffering of his old patient and friend. He thought of a solution to help Jerry and replied to the wife, "All right, Sammy, all right. Look, I'll get some supplies together and meet you there. When are you doing it?"

Jerry was unaware of all of this. His tooth truly

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