Doug sat behind the desk in the waiting room at the clinic.  The slight fennec's eyes darted from the form in front of him to the waiting room of patients.  He did this several times before turning in his chair and looking at the swan behind him.  "I'm not gonna say it."

Leslie sighed and placed her bill on the on the filing cabinet in front of her.  It wasn't the first time Doug had said that and it wouldn't be the last.  "What is it," she said at a volume that was barely audible.

"There's no way this is a real name!  Somebody out there is trying to get a rise out of me!" 

"Just say the name. "

"No!  It's embarrassing."

The swan sighed again and turned to face the fennec who now wore a pathetic look on his face as he pointed at the clipboard.  "Look we're backed up as it is and I'm filing today.  If somebody decided to waste their time filling out the forms for a laugh that's on them," said Leslie as she folded her wings, "Besides even if it's a joke you can just move on to the next name."

"But ... seriously?"

The swan cleared her throat, "Is it a name that uses several letters in a fashion that you're not used to seeing with possible umlauts, or more consonants or vowels strung together to make it impossible to suss out and will have to rely on spelling it over the intercom?"

"...No."

"Then just say it."

"But it's the name of..."
The swan put her wings on her hips, "Say it."

Doug rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath as he swiveled around in his chair to face the patients behind beyond the glass.  He pushed the button on the intercom as an expectant nurse waited.  The fennec inhaled deeply and read the sheet. "Attention please.  Attention.  Would R.E. El-Slimshady please stand up and follow the nurse," he waited a beat and repeated, "Please stand up." 

From the back of the waiting room a tall skinny heron whose clothes were four sizes too big rose and followed the nurse into the back.  Doug watched, his mouth agape until he felt a swat on his arm.

"See I told you," said Leslie with a small smile.

"I'm sorry," said Doug rather sheepishly, "I just ... folks like to ..."

"Prank you?"

Doug nodded as his large ears folded back, "Boy do I feel stupid."

"Eh don't.  Nobody likes having their time wasted or being laughed at. But you know, sometimes you've just gotta let it go.  Just let it roll off of your back like..."

"Water?"

Leslie shrugged.  

The little fennec smiled at her and as he did he noticed another nurse come forward to get the next patient. "Looks like I've got another name to read."

"Go for it big guy!"

Doug cleared his throat and hit the button on the intercom, "Attention please.   Ivana Mann..."

"Don't look at me!" shouted a voice from the waiting room.  Laughter soon followed.  

Doug buried his head in his hands and muttered, "Nine more hours of this...."

Leslie could only shake her head.