Sleeping Gas

When I was really little, I had to go to the hospital a couple of times to have a laser treatment on a birthmark. I always thought the treatment was to remove the birthmark and that it failed because because my birthmark is still there (and it's pretty large). However, I was told later in life that the procedures were simply to reduce the severity of the mark. If I had not gotten the treatment, the birthmark could have become thick, puffy, and maybe even hard. I imagine it would appear something like rhino skin, but I honestly have no idea. All I know is, the mark is still on my neck and it's very apparent. It feels like normal skin, so I forget it's there. But sometimes I remember its there when people ask if I have a rash or something. Surprisingly many people just assume I had been burned at some point in my life. I have to reassure them that that's not the case, even though it's kind of a cool story.
Anyway, I remember going to the hospital when I was really little. They told me they were going to use lasers on my birthmark, which I thought sounded awesome. I was excited to see some lasers! But I had to be asleep when they did it, so my hopes were vaporized.
I still have no idea what exactly they did during the procedure. What I do remember is walking down a long glass hall with a giant machine in the wall. It was some sort of cool instillation for people to look at as they make their way through the building. The intricate parts and pieces made it look like the inner workings of a giant watch or clock. Things moving and clicking, cogs turning, etc.
I had to wear pajamas for some reason while I was there. Maybe because they were the most comfortable clothing option for me. They also gave me these thick socks with small pegs on the bottom that were kind of like cleats (but not, obviously). They felt weird on my feet and I never knew why I had to wear them.
Things are blurry from that point forward, but the one thing I always remember is laying on a sort of operating table and having the gas mask put on me. A nurse would ask what "flavor" of the gas I would like and I always went with bubble gum. The flavored air tasted pretty good! As the gas made it's way into my lungs, they told me to count backwards from 50 (or whatever number they had specified). It never took long before I lost count and passed out.
It's a shame that I don't remember the procedure itself. I would have loved to see some lasers. We went back a couple more times in order to fully take care of the birthmark. I don't remember each in particular event. They all kind of blend together in my head.

Counting

One day in the 1st grade, it was learned that everyone in class was going to be called out to the hallway one by one. They wanted to assess our number comprehension. We would all be sitting in class, tasked with some time wasting activity, since students were going to be interrupted, and taken outside. The whispers going around the room when each student returned was that they were simply asking us to count as high as we could.
I found this exciting because I knew I could count all the way up to 100. Being the smug young man that I was, I planned on dazzling the test giver with my impressive counting ability. As I sat at my desk, I went over all of the numbers in my head, just to make sure I didn't forget any.
When it was my turn I got up out of my chair, stomach full of butterflies, and walked out into the hall where a particularly old woman was sitting at a desk which was set up right outside the door. I thought it was strange because I had never seen a desk (or even a chair for that matter) out in the hallway; only ever inside of a classroom.
After sitting down she asked my name and then asked me to count as high as I could. This was my moment! I began the count (possibly with 0, as if that mattered). Once I reached 30, I moved on to 31, and 32, thinking that there were so many more numbers left to go. But at that moment, she stopped me. "Ok! That's all I need," she said and told me to go back inside and get the next person.

She wasn't even impressed.

I was crushed.