“Yes,” Seth continued, his one lung laboring, his voice growing hoarse. “I stand by my words that my patients are my closest friends. And that is true for all of you. You too, Morris. My patients and I spend four hours a week in the most intimate possible discussion. Tell me, which of you spends that much intimate time with a friend? I’ll answer for you: not one of you—certainly not you, Morris. We all know about American male friendship patterns. Perhaps some, a few, of you have a weekly lunch with a friend and, between ordering and chewing, spend thirty minutes in intimate congress.
