Dog Disaster

Ethan came in the apartment door, dropping his keys in the bowl by the door, and starting to shrug off his hoodie. 

“You’re home late.” Tim commented, coming into the room followed by a spaniel. 

“I had problems with my blood sugar today.  Put me behind.”  Ethan glanced over at the dog.  “Why do we have a dog?”  

“This is Ava.  She’s Sam’s.  She and Ella are going to San Diego for the weekend with a group of girls, and their dog sitter fell through last minute.” 

Ethan carefully rubbed his eyes.  He’d had a long day with his blood sugars running low, and he didn’t need to finish his day with this. He put his hoodie back on as the dog jumped up on him.  “Down.” He said, firmly, pushing her back down with a sleeve covered hand. 

He collapsed on Tim’s couch sighing.  “I know it’s your apartment, and you don’t have to ask me, but I really wish you would have.”  He paused, grabbing a tissue from the coffee table.  “Hatchoo!” He scrubbed at his suddenly itchy nose, and noticed Ava pawing at his legs.  “No.” He ordered.  “Go away.” He gently pushed her away from him. 

He got up from the couch and headed toward the bathroom, shaking out a zyrtec into his palm, swallowing it with a glass of water from the kitchen.   He couldn’t remember the last time he’d reacted this quickly, but, he also couldn’t remember the last time he’d been around a dog that wasn’t hypoallergenic without antihistamines in his system.  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d even around a dog other than Jamie’s labradoodles; that could make him more sensitive, he thought.   

Tim followed him into the kitchen.  “I get it.  You don’t like dogs, but you can put up with her for 3 days.” 

Ethan sighed, rubbing his nose again.  He’d left the tissues in the living room.  “It’s not that I like or don’t like them.  I’m allergic to them.” 

Tim gave him a skeptical look as Ethan retreated back into the living room to retrieve his tissue off the coffee table and blow his nose.  “You’ve been around Jamie and Freddie’s dogs without a problem.” Tim pointed out. 

Ethan took a new tissue and blotted his watery eyes.  “Jamie’s allergic to dogs.  They have labradoodles which are hypoallergenic.” He reminded Tim.  He sat down on the couch, and Ava was immediately trying to get into his lap again.  “Ava, no.  Down.” He ordered in a low firm tone.  “Can you put her somewhere, please?” He managed before doubling over with another forceful sneeze.  “Hatchoo!” 

“Bless you.  I’ll put her in the bedroom.”  He led Ava in the bedroom to the sound of Ethan blowing his nose. 

“I’m going back to my place.” Ethan informed him when he came back in the room.   

“Ethan, don’t.” 

“I’m going to be sneezing like crazy all weekend.  She’s probably on the bed right now, so I can’t sleep there.” 

“We already were.” Tim admitted sheepishly.  “Before you got home.” 

Ethan sighed, rubbing his eyes again. 

“If I had known, I never would have agreed.” Tim was on the defensive.  “You should have told me.” 

Ethan sighed.  “I thought I had.”  He sniffled. 

“I would have let Alex convince Alyssa otherwise. You never told me; you told me pollens, dust, penicillin,  and a fourth thing.” 

“Dogs.  And now you’re stuck with her.  That’s why I’m going home…Atchoo!…before this gets bad.” 

“Let me call Alex.”  Tim stopped him.  “Maybe he’ll be able to do it.   Just wait.” 

Ethan blew his nose again as Tim called and listened to the conversation.   Tim pleading with Alex to convince Alyssa, Alex letting Tim have it for not checking with Ethan first, especially when he heard Ethan sneezing in the background.    

Tim hung up the phone a few minutes later.   “He’s talking to Alyssa.  He’ll call back in a few minutes.” 

Ethan nodded before pitching forward with another sneeze.  “Hatshoo!” 

“These are pretty close together.” Tim commented. 

Ethan nodded, wiping his eyes and nose.  “I didn’t know there was gonna be a dog here when I got home from work, so I didn’t take zyrtec.  So allergy attack while I wait for it to kick in.” He sniffled.   

“I’m sorry babe.  If Alex takes him, what do I need to do for you to stay here?” 

“Hahshoo!” He made Tim wait while he blew his nose a few times.  “Vacuum.  Change the bedding. Wash the furniture covers since I know you let her on there too. Put up with my sneezing all night.”   

“You gonna be ok to stay here while we wait if Alex takes her?” 

“Atchoo!  Don’t have a choice.  Can’t drive in rush hour like this.” He shrugged. 

“Benadryl?” Tim offered 

“Wait.  Let’s see how this dies down after she’s gone, and you clean up.” He swiped at his runny nose with the tissue.  “I’m going to sit in the kitchen.” 

Tim watched as he walked to the kitchen, stopped in his tracks by another body bending sneeze.  He looked at his phone willing it to ring.   He walked to the entrance of the kitchen.  “Do you want me in there with you or should I change clothes first?” 

“Change.  Please.”  Ethan looked at him with red, watery eyes as Tim’s phone rang.   

All Ethan heard was Tim’s end of the conversation this time, ending with you’ll take her, see you in about an hour. 

He looked over at Ethan.  “They’ll take him.”   

Ethan sighed with relief.    “Ahhshoo!” 

“Bless you.  Why don’t I sweep in here, since she’s eaten in here, then you can hang out in here until Alex comes, while I clean the living room?”    

Ethan nodded, heading towards the living room, carrying his box of tissues.   He pulled the cover off the armchair, being rewarded with another sneeze for his attempt at helping, and set it in the corner.   He looked over to see Tim mopping the kitchen floor, and made an attempt at a smile.  Today was just not going his way.    

Tim came out into the living room a few minutes later.  “Floor’s wet, but clean.” 

“Hatchoo!  Thanks.”  Ethan said stuffily, going in and sitting at the table, texting Dustin about his day. 

He saw Tim grab a clothes basket and stuff the furniture covers in it.  “I’m going to run down to the laundry room and start these.” He called to Ethan. 

“Ok.” Ethan called back, as Dustin texted back, asking if he needed a ride back home.   

He reassured Dustin the dog was leaving, that Tim was cleaning, that the zyrtec would kick in soon, and steeled himself for a lecture on eating. 

“HahAtchoo.”  He sneezed as Dustin’s lecture texts started coming through..  25 years since they first met and Dustin was still as protective as ever. 

He heard Tim came back.  “I changed in the laundry room.”  He told Ethan. 

“Oh?” Ethan raised his eyebrows.   

“Yeah.  Amy came in while I was changing. Two things; you’re not the only one who thinks I have nice calves, and she said you could go hang out with her and Pete until Alex gets here and I’m done here if you want.” 

Ethan shook his head.  “I’d feel weird just sitting and sneezing in someone else’s apartment, trying to make small talk.  Plus, I think my sneezing scares Stella.”  Stella was Pete and Amy’s 2 year old.    

“I’ll let her know.”  Tim texted Amy, then went to the living room and started vacuuming.  And vacuuming.   

“Hey, hon” he called, “Hatshoo! Make sure you leave some carpet left.” 

Tim came back, blushing.   “Just wanted to make sure I did a good enough job.   I got the furniture too.  You ok?” 

Ethan looked at him, runny nose, red watery eyes.  “Not feeling so great.”  He sniffled.  “Can you grab my bag?” He asked. 

Tim grabbed Ethan’s backpack from the entryway, then watched as Ethan checked his blood sugar.  “92.  That’s the highest I’ve been today.”  

Tim looked at him sympathetically.  “Supper.  What do you want?” He asked, walking to the fridge. 

Ethan shrugged.  “Do…Ahtshoo! Don’t care.” 

“I’ve got chicken…chicken, mashed potatoes…” he held up two bags of frozen vegetables.  “Corn or green beans.” 

“Green beans.”  Ethan blew his nose.. 

Tim started preparing the chicken.  “Tell me about your day.  How was it…before coming home to find a dog?” 

Ethan sighed.  “Long.  Rough.”  He blew his nose again, then rested his head in his hands. 

Tim looked over.  He knew Ethan couldn’t and wouldn’t go into great detail about work, but he’d give an overview.   

“Started with the low blood sugar this morning.” Ethan rubbed his nose.  “I apparently didn’t eat enough because I was low again before I usually eat my snack.  I’ve checked my blood sugar 7 times already today.  I’ve had no insulin, and I’m still running low.” 

Tim nodded.  Ethan usually ran between 100-120.  He typically had tight control on his blood sugar.   This was abnormal for him.   “Is everything ok?” He asked. 

Ethan nodded, cupping his hands over his nose.  “Hahshoo!  Yeah.  Just happens sometimes, especially when I’m sick or it’s hot out like now.  Anything that makes me lose my appetite.” 

“Work go ok?” 

Ethan groaned.  “I ended up 20 minutes behind because of the blood sugar. And half my patients today were the ones that didn’t feel they needed to be there. The ones who don’t feel they need to follow diet recommendations or take their medication or test and then don’t understand why their diabetes isn’t under control.  And they weren’t happy I was behind.”  He sighed.   He hated not being able to reach patients. 

Tim threw the chicken in the frying pan and began heating water for the mashed potatoes, setting up a second pan for the green beans.  

“By the end of the day, I had the worst headache.  Ibuprofen took care of it on the drive home.  HahAtchoo!  All this sneezing is bringing it back though.”  Wincing, he blew his nose. 

Tim flipped the chicken, then covered the pan.   “Sorry.” He apologized. 

“Then I got here, and there’s a dog climbing on me, and now, who knows when I’ll stop sneezing.” 

Tim threw the green beans in a pan with butter and garlic and began sautéing them.   “I’m sorry I forgot you’re allergic.” He said, softly. 

“I guess it’s better than a situation with you forgetting I’m allergic to penicillin.” Ethan shrugged.  “I’d rather sneeze all night than spend the weekend covered in hives.” He smiled 

Tim gave him a smile back.  “5 minutes to supper, ok.” He said as there was a knock on the door. 

“I got it,” Ethan said, heading for the door, sneezing into his wrist on the way there.  He opened the door for Alex.  “Hey,” he sniffled, knowing exactly how awful he looked and not caring. 

“Hey.  Wow…you don’t kid around when you’re allergic to something, do you?” Alex commented, taking stock of Ethan’s pink, runny nose and red, puffy, watery eyes. 

“Guess not.” Was Ethan’s stuffy reply.  “Thank you for taking her.” 

“Lyss is pissed at Tim for this,” he grinned.  “She does not like dogs and did not appreciate having this sprung on her.” 

“Tell her I appreciate it.” 

“I will.” Alex said as Tim came out of the kitchen.  “Lyss says you owe her.  Majorly owe her.” 

“I figured as much.” Tim said.    “What does she have against dogs anyway?” 

Alex shrugged.  “They bark, they get hair everywhere, they poop all over, she has a million reasons.  She’s a cat person.” 

“I gotta finish up supper real quick and bag up her food.” Tim told Alex, ducking back into the kitchen.  Alex and Ethan followed him.   He dished up a plate for Ethan.  “Eat while Alex takes Ava.” 

Ethan sat down, pulling his scrub top up to cover a powerful sneeze.  “Hatshoo!” 

“Bless you.” Alex said, sliding the tissues over to him. 

Ethan shot him a grateful look.  “Thanks.” 

Tim finished getting the food and dishes together, then led Alex to the bedroom to collect the dog.  “I’m going to walk Alex out, ok?” He called.  “Help him carry everything.” 

“Ok.” Ethan called back, starting in on his chicken.   Tim was back a few minutes later, catching Ethan gearing up for his umpteenth sneeze of the evening. 

“Ahchoo!”  He scrubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. 

“Bless you. Mind if I eat before tackling the bedroom?” 

Ethan shook his head, and Tim dug into his supper.  Ethan spent most of the meal trying to time bites of food around his sneezes. 

After dinner, Tim went to go change the sheets and throw them in the wash, wiping down the clothes basket when he was done, then vacuumed the bedroom.  He could hear Ethan’s sneezing start to slow in the living room, now that the dog was gone. 

He came out to find Ethan looking slightly better on the couch.   “I broke dow…” Ethan’s face crinkled.  “HahAhtschoo!  I took Benadryl.” He admitted.  “Just too miserable.” 

Tim felt guilt flip in his stomach.  “I’m sorry babe.  You want to go lay down, after I make the bed?” 

“That would be nice.”  Ethan sniffled and blew his sore nose.    

“Find a movie to watch, maybe?” 

“You know I’m gonna fall asleep.” 

“I know.” Tim smiled. “Go change while I make the bed.” 

Ethan threw on sweats and a faded t-shirt, then watched Tim wrestle with the fitted sheet.  “Let me help you.” He laughed, spinning away from Tim.  “Hahtshoo!”  Sniffling, he helped Tim make the bed, then curled up in it, tissues tucked in at his side. 

Tim found one of Ethan’s favorite movies to watch and curled up next to him.  “I’ll be spending the weekend making this up to you, won’t I?” 

“Yup.”  Ethan answered sleepily, snuggling closer.  “Ahshoo.” Came the sleepy sneeze.   

30 minutes later, Tim noticed that the sleepy sneezes and sniffles had changed to light snores.  “Good night,” he whispered, kissing Ethan’s forehead and tucking the blankets around him.