"Making the World a Better Place" by Eliot S Ku

When the self-driving vehicle was in a bad accident but still in drivable condition, it selfishly bypassed the local hospital on its way to the dealership’s repair shop. The car was fixed up while the passenger inside suffered their injuries.

The company that sold the vehicles received a slap on the wrist and they used the incident as a case study during their annual summit. Some employee suggested they reach out to a large hospital conglomerate. Soon thereafter, the two entities made an agreement.

Now there were trauma bays staffed by board-certified surgeons attached to the dealership repair shops, where the battered self-driving vehicles and their unlucky inhabitants could be taken in the event of an accident. A one-stop shop. It could be said that the blood and oil stains on the ground complimented one another beautifully.

It wasn’t long before car wash businesses began offering elective surgeries. 

A win-win for all, but especially for industry.

The employee whose idea led to this remarkable symbiosis received a small honorary plaque for her innovative spirit. Regrettably, due to rising costs of inflation, she could not be offered a paid promotion at this time.

Eliot S. Ku is a physician who lives in New Mexico with his wife and two young children. His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in The Raven Review, Maudlin House, Meow Meow Pow Pow Lit, and Whiskey Tit.