Choked Up(Gordon England) While waking up yesterday, I read the newspaper, drank coffee, and enjoyed toast for breakfast by myself. At one point, a small piece of toast went down the wrong way. I was able to breathe, so I didn't perceive it as significant. I gagged, hoping to dislodge the bread, but that didn’t work.
The small piece of bread remained lodged in my throat even after many coughs. This quickly became the center of my attention, and I felt frustrated. Although a nurse lived upstairs, I didn’t want to bother her for what felt like a minor issue. The hospital was only five minutes away, so I wasn’t worried. I gasped and coughed again.
I remembered a recent Facebook post about clearing your chest when you’re alone. I attempted a self-Heimlich by repeatedly striking my chest, but the angle was ineffective. More coughing brought me to tears, and I realized I needed to hit my chest harder.
My kitchen bar had a rounded corner at chest level. I stepped up to it and banged my chest against the corner. I was still coughing. I backed up a foot and gagged again. Though the bread remained stuck, my ribs took a hard blow. Now I had to get serious.
I backed up two feet, took a step forward, and slammed into the corner right at the spot where the breath gets knocked out of you.
“Uh.”
A gob of toast flew from my mouth, and I took a cautious breath. Yes, I was clear! Had I hit harder, I might have cracked a rib before heading to the nurse.
I was definitely awake now. With that ordeal behind me, I poured myself a cup of coffee and opened a Sudoku book.

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