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By Dave Santo
Rated: PG-13
An alternate ending to The Story of Ken.

Barbie goes into the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. Ken is lying there, hooked up to all sorts of
wires measuring his life signs, leading to a monitor. An IV leads to his arm, dripping clear liquid. “I
heard you got shot, Ken.”
“I’m dying,” Ken says. “Hold my hand, Barbie.”
“What’s this obsession with hand holding?” But reluctantly she approaches him and takes hold of
his hand.
“Tell me that you love me, Barbie,” Ken begs. “Then I can die happy.”
“Don’t be silly, Ken. I can’t lie to you.”
“I love you so much, Barbie.”
The doctor comes into the room, beaming. “Your blood types match. We can do the transfusion.”
Ken slips into a coma. His hand becomes limp.
Barbie thinks about this a bit. “Hmm. No, I don’t think so.” She lets go of Ken’s hand.
The doctor blinks. “What?”
“I changed my mind.”
“But – “
Ken is dreaming. The doctor did the transfusion and it was successful. Barbie says, “I love you,
Ken.” Ken dies happy.

The monitor shrieks. The red line deadlines on the monitor and goes across the screen in a flat line.
Barbie and the doctor both stare at it.
Barbie says, “Well, it’s time to go to my gynecology appointment.”
The doctor is dumbstruck by her lack of feeling. “I thought you were his girlfriend.”
“Me? Oh no.” Barbie shakes her pretty head and her hair falls loosely around her. “I’m everything.
He’s Just Ken.”
THE END

Discussion Question

Are you kidding? This story is a joke. It never happened.

Copyright 2024 by Dave Santo

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