Freddie woke up to a house empty except for the dogs. The dogs who had woken him up, begging to go outside. He tried to take a breath through his congested sinuses and ended up with a sharp series of coughs as his reward.
Slipping his flip flops on, he walked downstairs to let the dogs out in the backyard, trying to ignore the throbbing in his head and sinuses. “UhhrChuhdzshoo, HuhhrChushzhoo!” He grabbed a paper towel and slumped down at the kitchen table, wincing as he blew his sore nose.
He’d had the cold for a week and a half before it turned into a sinus infection. Sore throat, cough, throbbing head, fever, and sneezing…incessant sneezing. Normally, he’d be all over that last part, but this time around, he just felt too awful.
And he was alone. Jamie had literally taken him to the doctor, dropped him at home and flown to San Francisco for work. Alex was doing shows this week in Vegas and had taken Tim and Alyssa with him. Tim had just started dating Ethan, and it wasn’t like he knew him well enough to call him and ask him to bring over some chicken soup. Did Ethan even cook?, he wondered.
Freddie was on his own for a few days.
He let the dogs back in and fed them, head pounding relentlessly as he bent over to fill their bowls. Grabbing a fresh glass of water, he fruitlessly blew his nose and headed back upstairs.
Shivering, he crawled back under his blankets, pulling them tight up around him. Cash crawled up on his right side and Pace up on his left, both dogs snuggling around him. He appreciated the extra warmth.
He didn’t know how long he’d slept, just that he felt ten times worse when he woke up. A glance at the clock showed it was nearly 11. No wonder he felt awful: he had been due for more cold medicine almost two hours ago.
He sat up and hastily grabbed a handful of tissues, burying his nose in them. “H’Chudshh, Chudzhh, UhhChudshoo.” Six more sneezes rocked his body, and he sniffled wetly as he felt the cement in his sinuses shift and his nose start to slowly run. Three crackling blows later, and he was ready to get out of bed to grab the cold medicine and his antibiotic.
With a second thought, he grabbed the blanket off the bed along with his pillow. Draping the blanket over his shoulders, he made his way downstairs to where a new box of DayQuil and his antibiotic sat on the kitchen counter.
Freshly medicated and somewhat more hydrated – still no appetite – he made his way to the couch, clutching his pillow and dragging the blanket behind him. Flopping down on the couch with a sneeze, he sighed. He’d left the tissue box in the kitchen…and his phone.
After a brief coughing spell, and several sips of water, he slowly walked back to the kitchen. A glance at his phone showed three missed text messages. Grabbing the tissues, he took his phone back to the couch to read them.
Once bundled in his blanket again, he took a good look at his phone. Jamie…2 missed texts; Tim…missed text.
Jamie: Hey Sweety, just checking in to see how you’re doing?
Jamie: sweety, you ok? It’s not like you not to answer. Do I need to call someone?
Her last text had been sent just before he woke up. He texted back hurriedly.
Freddie: I’m ok, hon. Just woke up. Let the dogs out & then fell back to sleep. Feel pretty awful, but I’m so tired it doesn’t matter
He read Tim’s text…much less worried than Jamie’s.
Tim: Hey man, how you doing? Heard you have sinus infection now. Sucks. Feel better.
Freddie started to respond when a sudden sneeze hit him. “HuhChuszzhh. Ugh.” He muttered, wiping the spray off his phone with a tissue, then pressing that tissue to his nose as a whole volley of sneezes struck him, “UhChuzhh, Chudshh, H’Chudshoo, uhChudzhhoo, hhh’chuzhh.” He sneezed for another half minute before the unrelenting itch left his sinuses. And then blew his tender, raw nose for another minute with a fresh wad of tissues..
Then responded to Tim.
Freddie: yeah…sinus infection. Pretty miserable. Would rather be poolside in Vegas lol.
His phone dinged with a return text from Jamie just after he messaged Tim.
Jamie: Good. Glad you’re ok, & just sleeping. Was worried. Will let you go back to sleep. ❤️ you
Freddie: ❤️ you too.
Freddie stretched out on the couch, still wrapped in his blanket, tight enough to stay warm, but loose enough to allow his hands easy tissue access. He found a movie on prime and started watching. “HuhChuzhh.” He had just gotten comfortable enough for his eyelids to start feeling heavy when the sneeze pitched him forward. “Uhhchidshh, Chizhoo.” Ugh, he thought. What had happened to his usual pattern of singles or doubles. Every time now was at least three…normally he’d be over the moon at that; he felt he never sneezed enough; but considering every sneeze caused searing pain from his forehead down to his jaw, and by the end of each fit, he was dizzy, sneezing was not at the top of the list of enjoyable activities today.
He tried again, only to be awoken by four sneezes once he finally dozed off.
The third time, a coughing jag which left him gasping for air.
Finally on the fourth attempt, he fell asleep until the dogs woke him, wanting to go outside for the third time that day.
Grabbing a hoodie from the hall closet, he wrapped it around himself – was he ever going to be warm? – and led the dogs into the backyard, cleaning up after them for the first time that day. Shivering, he washed his hands.
Deciding it was time to eat, he popped a bowl of oatmeal into the microwave, then picked at it. It was warm, but the post nasal drip running down his throat made him wince with every swallow. With half of it finished, he made a cup of tea – no lemon, extra honey, and returned to couch and his blanket burrito.
The steam from the tea started his nose dripping, and it wasn’t long before he had freed his hands from the confines of the blanket and deposited the tissue box on his lap. Soft liquid blows followed as the sludge that had been in his sinuses loosened up and began to drain its way out.
“UhhChushoo, Chushoo!” The pair of sneezes surprised him, and watched the spray settled on the coffee table before grabbing a new set of tissues and filling them, needing a second set to finish blowing his nose. ‘Better take a disinfectant wipe to the coffee table before Jamie gets home.’ He reminded himself before being startled by another sudden sneeze, barely having a chance to clap a hand over his face.
He wiped his hand on his sweat pants and reached for more tissues – better keep these ready; the tea had certainly started something.
He was able to select the sequel to the movie he had just finished watching when the sneezing struck again. “Huhhchishoo! UhhChishh! Chishh! HehhChishheshh!” By the third sneeze, the thin stack of tissues – he really thought two would have been enough- was soaked, and generally, rendered useless. These were not the stuffy sneezes of that morning; these were wet sneezes that seemed to come out of nowhere. If only he were healthy enough to enjoy this…
He took a sip of tea, noting the steam/tea had a spicy scent. He’d grabbed one of Jamie’s teas by mistake, and this particular one always irritated him. However, today, it was just what he needed; it *was* clearing his sinuses.
“Uhhkushhoo, kushhoo, huhuckshoo!”
Grabbing the last few tissues from the box, he powerfully blew his nose, hoping to stop the running for a few minutes. Shedding his blanket cocoon, he padded his way to the hall closet for more.
He had no more than opened the box when he doubled over with a powerful sneeze that was unlike his normal, and remained that way for four more. Straightening up, he waited for the wave of dizziness to pass before heading back to the kitchen for a glass of water and fresh tea.
That done, he flopped down on the couch, only to have his phone ding again.
Tim: poolside would be good for you. Soaking up the sun would get you better. Alex says hi – he’s been in rehearsals most of the day while Lyss goes shopping.
Freddie grinned and typed back: Don’t lose all your money at the blackjack table
“He’Chushh.” He rubbed his nose with the tissue, starting to stuff up again, and turned his attention back to the movie.
He must have nodded off because it was nearing the end when his phone woke him again.
Ethan: Hey…it’s Ethan. Heard through the grapevine that you’re sick and alone. Need me to drop anything off?
Freddie read the text a few times, first trying to figure out who Ethan was in his half asleep state. Having placed Ethan, he was then trying to figure out how Ethan knew his predicament. – Tim must have told him.
Freddie: Yeah…sinus infection. I’m good though…Jamie stocked me up pretty good before she left
Ethan: You sure? I went to check on Cashew, so I’m stopping at the deli between there and the hospital. They have pretty good soup…Or if you just want some company? Although I’ll warn you, you’ll spend the evening listening to me sneeze…
Freddie did have to admit, he wasn’t totally opposed to that idea…if he only had a decent voice right now. The thought of Ethan sneezing sent a charge through him that made him feel a little better, but he was not quite sure if he felt well enough for the man to stop over.
Freddie: Allergies bad today?
Ethan: 🤧 Awful. Plus there was a hurt dog in the parking garage after work, and like an idiot, I had to stop to try to check it’s collar for tags. Scared him every time I sneezed. Finally someone else came along and took over for me. Still sneezed in the car for half an hour tho.
Freddie: Jamie will do that too.
Ethan: anyway, I’m still sneezing for my attempts at a good deed. Thought that since I was stopping at Tim’s, I’d hit the deli instead of sneezing my way around my kitchen. Sure I can’t tempt you with some chicken dumpling…
Freddie paused to sneeze before responding:
What about our dogs? I know they’re bred for people with allergies, but I don’t want to risk making you feel worse…
Ethan: They’ve never bothered me before. Labradoodle have never been a problem
Freddie: Chicken dumpling actually sounds really good. Throat hurts so I haven’t eaten much. If you don’t mind driving over here, that I’m a snotty, disgusting mess with no voice….
Ethan: I’m sure I’ve seen worse, man. Text me your address.
Freddie texted over the address.
Ethan: see you an an hour, ok
Freddie: sure. Thanks
“Uhhchushoo, H’chushh, Chuhhshehh.” Freddie got off the couch and headed for the shower, glad he’d have enough time to look human and pick up the used tissues before Ethan got there,.
Not Alone
Freddie felt slightly more human after his shower. Slightly. The steam from the shower had set him sneezing again, and he’d had to hold on to the wall a few times to keep from falling. But there was always something about scrubbing the sick off of you that made you a little less miserable. Plus, real clothes over the sweats and ratty tshirt he’d been in all day did improve his ‘sorry for himself’ mood.
Ethan had been nice enough to offer him soup – extra nice considering they didn’t know each other all that well – so the least he could do would be to make the house – and himself presentable. He snatched up all the used tissues from the living room, tossing them in a paper grocery bag.
“HuhUhdshoo, Uhhdshuhh.” The pair of sneezes came with little warning, and he just barely caught them in the collar of his tshirt. There was a third and a fourth to follow, with a fifth teasing that went away as the doorbell rang.
He was about to open the door when he heard a loud ‘Hatchoo!’ From the other side.
“Bless you,” he offered, hoarsely, upon opening the door. “Come in.”
Ethan, swiping at his irritated nose with a well used tissue, picked up the soup from the step, and stepped in, sighing in relief when he heard the hum of the air purifier. “Thanks.”
“Let me get some bowls.” Freddie headed to the kitchen a Ethan plucked a tissue from the box on the coffee table and tended to his nose.
Freddie returned with the dishes and let Ethan dish up the soup, not wanting to pass his sinus infection – or the cold that led up to it – on to Ethan. The man was clearly miserable from his allergies as it was; his eyes were puffy, watery, and bloodshot, his nose was red and raw at the edges, his hair hung down into his face, flopping into his eyes when he sneezed, and his scrubs were wrinkled, probably from the dog and sitting/crawling on the floor of the parking garage.
Of course, he knew, that with the dark circles under his eyes, his red, chapped nose, and dry, cracked lips, he looked perhaps, marginally better and that was mostly due to his recent shower.
“You look rough.” Ethan handed him a bowl of soup.
Freddie paused to cough. “No offense, but so do you.” He hastily set his soup on the table, turning away from Ethan. “H’Chushh, Chusszhoo, uhhChudshoo, uhdshoo! Excuse me.” He buried his nose in a tissue, then tossed it in the bag between them. “Sorry.” Sniffling, he turned back to Ethan.
“Bless you. Those sound harsh.”
Freddie nodded. “They’re sounding worse.” He picked up a tissue and blew his nose, only able to clear his right nostril…the left seemed to be full of glue.
Ethan noticed his predicament. “One side’s completely stuffed up no matter what you do?” He asked with a smile.
Freddie nodded. “Know any tricks?”
Ethan shook his head. “Sorry, no. But it happens to me every single time I get a cold; keeps switching sides too.”
“Hate it,” Freddie grumbled, picking up his soup and taking a bite. “This is really good.”
“Yeah. It’s kinda become the go to for me and Tim when we don’t feel well, especially if Tim isn’t up f-f-for…Hahshoo…for making soup. Ugh.” He reached for a tissue as he had covered that one by pulling the bottom hem of his scrub top up and ducked down into it. “My nose itches worse after that.” He commented, scrubbing at his nose with the back of his hand. “Weird.”
Freddie nodded, momentarily silenced. He’d had a great view for Ethan’s face pre sneeze before he’d buried his face in his shirt, and he was trying to preserve that memory. “That does seem odd,” he commented,” taking a bite of his soup, this time, leaving it on the coffee table.
Ethan also opted to leave his soup on the table. “My sneezing’s so unpredictable right now. Usually, I can time it out, have some warning, but that’s not happening today.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Jamie says they’re saying this is going to be one of the worst seasons in a long time.” Freddie offered, less than helpfully, judging by Ethan’s groan and the fact that he was presently leaned against the couch, rubbing hard at his eyes with the bottoms of his hands.
Ethan straightened up and turned to Freddie. “Spring’s my worst season to begin with. Especially the…Hahtshoo!…” He ducked down into his lap again. “Especially the first couple weeks while I wait for the meds to take full effect again. That’s why I’m so bad right now.” More nose rubbing.
This one just bent Ethan double into his lap; Freddie saw the whole sneeze, from the wrinkling of Ethan’s nose and the slight drop of his jaw as the buildup began to the slight mist of spray that hit the lower half of his scrub top. Tim was a lucky guy – not that Tim felt the same way about what he had just witnessed as he did.
Ethan took the tissue Freddie offered and smiled at the blessing. “Thanks.” He rubbed hard at his nose, leaving a crease in the bridge. “Ugh. The sneezing won’t quit today.”
“Want me to try putting the dogs upstairs?”
Ethan shook his head. “It’s not your dogs. They’ve never bothered me before. It’s probably left over from the other dog.” He paused and chuckled. “You should have seen me in the deli. The other customers acted like I had the plague. I swear I need a “it’s allergies” sign.”
“Have you seen you?” Freddie pointed out.
“I know. Not exactly at my best right now.” He pitched forward into his lap with another sneeze. He blew his nose hard, then sighed. “Seriously, I feel like I have to sneeze worse after I sneeze. That’s gotta be weird.”
Freddie opened his mouth to respond, then sneezed into cupped hands. “Uhhchishh, Chushh, Huhchushh, uhhhchushoo.” Wiping his hands on his jeans, he grabbed a tissue and blew wetly a few times. “Sorry, that was gross.” He apologized.
“Snuck up on you?”
“They’ve been doing that. I was going to ask…did you pick up the dog? Hold the dog?”
A sigh. “Yeah…I sat down and had him in my lap to try to check his paw, then read his tags…which is hard to do when your eyes are watering and he jumps away every time you sneeze. I got scratched too.”
Freddie took a good look at Ethan’s scrub top. “You’ve got dog hair on your shirt. Plenty of it. I bet it’s on your pants too.”
“Shit. Explains the sneezing then, why it’s so close together and why they’re so strong. They don’t always bend me double.” He explained. “I better eat and go home. Change.”
“You ok to drive? Want some Benadryl?”
“Then I really wont be ok to drive home. AhhAhshoo…And I really don’t know.” Ethan admitted.
Freddie looked at Ethan, sizing him. “I’m a little taller and heavier than you, but not much. I’ve probably got something that’ll pretty much fit you. Probably sweats, if you don’t mind…”
Ethan looked back at Freddie, relief in his eyes. “Seriously man? That’d help. Just tampering down this sneezing would be great.”
“Shower? I know that helps Jamie. Shower and a change of clothes.”
“That would be great…if you don’t mind…”
“Wouldn’t offer if I did.” He was enjoying Ethan’s sneezing, but the man just looked miserable. And he did want him to be able to get home safely; he knew the longer he was around the dog dander on his clothes the stronger the reaction would get. “I’ll reheat the soup while you shower and change.”
He led Ethan upstairs, found him some clothes that he thought would fit ok and a towel. “I’ll be downstairs, he said, coughing.
Back downstairs, Freddie let the dogs out, fed them, and took his antibiotic and more cold medicine. He was getting ready to open the microwave to grab Ethan’s bowl of soup when the first sneeze hit. He managed to catch that one in his wrist and prepared to catch the ones that followed in the crook of his arm. “Chushh, uhhchishh, Huhchushh, chushoo, huhcshh, huhchudshh, uhhdshoo.” 7 more sneezes followed in rapid succession, and he grabbed hold of a chair to steady himself until the dizziness passed.
“Bless you.” Freddie heard Ethan say and saw him crossing the kitchen to the sink, grabbing a couple paper towels which he handed to Freddie.
“Thanks.” Freddie grimaced at his hoarse, congested voice, but Ethan didn’t seem to notice. Freddie pressed the rough paper towels to his nose and blew several times, wincing at how sore his nose was was when he was done.
“You ok? I only caught the end of that, but it seemed intense.”
“Yeah.” Freddie nodded, noting that Ethan looked and sounded a little better after his shower. “That keeps happening with the sinus infection.”
“I think that’s pretty typical; I’ve got a friend who just sneezes like crazy when he’s got a sinus infection.”
“Good to know I’m not alone. I can’t remember the last time I had one. Your soup’s in the microwave by the way. Don’t worry – it was in there before I started sneezing.”
“I’d have just dished up a new bowl otherwise,” Ethan laughed, inhaling sharply. “Hatchoo!” He brought his wrist up to his nose as he sneezed, once again giving Freddie almost a total view.
Freddie and Ethan both went to the sink and washed their hands, the took their soup to the living room again. “Shower was a good idea. I’m a lot less itchy. And I got my cut cleaned up.”
“Clothes fit ok.”
“Not bad. Thanks for that and the shower.” Ethan slipped a tissue into his right hand, picking his spoon with his left. “Probably should be prepared now that this might be more under control. I’m usually better about covering them, but when my allergies get that bad, it’s unpredictable and it’s hard to catch them. Thought I was actually gonna sneeze twice in a row a couple times…can’t remember the last time I did that.”
“Same with this. No build up on the first sneeze half the time.” Freddie commiserated.
They fell silent for a minute until Freddie coughed again.
“Is this the part where you ask me my intentions with Tim?”
“Is that why you offered to come over with soup?”
Ethan laughed. “Fair point.” They fell into silence again until Ethan broke it by sneezing.
“Bless you. I think your allergies rival Jamie’s.”
“Like I said earlier, spring is just awful for me. Fall isn’t nearly as bad. Occasional issues in the summer. The puppy definitely isn’t helping today. I don’t know what I was thinking with that one.”
“That someone had to help him…that’s what Jamie says, anyway. She tried to bring a bird into Alex’s once. That did not go well.” At Ethan’s confused look, “Alex is incredibly allergic to feathers and not that fond of wildlife, either.”
Ethan laughed. “I don’t think Tim would allow that either. He made me toss one of my colognes.”
“I think he wishes…EhhChushh, chushh, hehhchushh, heychushoo…think he wishes Alex would toss the same one.”
“Bless you.” Ethan slid the tissues closer to Freddie, then pressed his tissue to his nose to cover a loud “Ahshoo!” He gingerly wiped his nose and sniffled. “I don’t get stuffed up with my allergies,” he explained, “my nose just runs constantly.”
“That’s gotta suck.” Freddie said, finishing his soup.
Ethan shrugged. “On the other hand, my sister gets so incredibly congested, that sometimes you can barely understand her, so…” He pushed his empty bowl away and looked at Pace who was staring at him. “I have no food.” He explained to the dog.
“He wants to get to know you. He’s the shy one.” Cash was curled up at Freddie’s feet.
“Oh.” Ethan held out his hand for Pace to sniff. “I’m not used to pets. Cashew has been an adjustment.”
“Never had any?”
“A fish, once. Parents and sister allergic to cats, dogs for me. Mom hates rodents, birds and scaly things. So, I had Sammy the goldfish for about six months when I was 8.” He grinned.
“I always had dogs. Mom was allergic to cats. Then found out I am too about six months ago.”
Ethan laughed. “Right. Tim said you brought one home without telling Jamie. Found out she’s not, and you are.”
“HuhChushoo! Right. Who would have predicted that? Never had allergies before then.”
“Want some?” Ethan joked, both wishing it was something Ethan could share. Freddie was always wishing for more allergies. “I’ve had mine forever. Winner of the genetic lottery.”
“Worse now than when you were a kid?”
Ethan shrugged. “As a kid, they were harder to deal with. I didn’t always understand why I couldn’t play outside or go near a dog without sneezing. But in terms of them being worse, they got bad in high school, and at least haven’t gotten worse. Aside from spring, dust is probably the worst.” He turned to the side, uncrumpling his tissue. “Hahshoo!”
“Talking about it setting you off?” Freddie joked.
“Dog working its way out of my system. I’m the only one in my family who sneezes like this too. The rest of them sneeze normally, like you or Tim.”
Freddie shot him a quizzical look.
“Always once. Always really spaced out. The fact that they’re close together right now means I’m still reacting to the dog on top of my hay fever…but they’re spacing out. Always loud. I can’t make them quieter unless I bury my face in my pillow. Can’t stifle them, can’t hold them back, definitely can’t stop them.”
Freddie had to admit he was enjoying this conversation. Having Ethan over, where he had resisted at first, was certainly proving to be delightful. He was feeling better just listening to the man talk about his allergies…and sniffle…and of course, sneeze.
“And yes, it’s always a storybook sound before you ask.” Ethan groaned. “So embarrassing.”
“It’s not that bad.” Freddie blurted out before he could stop himself. “Manly.”
“Wish it wasn’t so loud though.”
“You have other allergies?”
“The seasonal shit, dogs, dust and penicillin. And we know you’re lucky and don’t.”
Freddie did not consider that lucky. Even just one more allergy would be nice; something to reliably make him sneeze like Ethan was.
“Nope. EhhChushoo! Just haven’t found a cold that didn’t like me.”
Ethan chuckled. “See now, that’s gotta suck. Colds are just miserable.”
“Especially when they turn into this.” Freddie pressed a handful of tissues to his nose and sneezed three more times followed by a strong series of coughs.
“Bless you.” Ethan handed him his water. “Take a drink.”
Following a sip of water, Freddie caught his breath as Ethan looked at his watch. “It’s almost 9. I should let you rest.”
Freddie nodded, sneezing twice more. “Probably not a bad idea. I’m starting to wear out again. Um, wanna stop over again tomorrow; I mean, unless you have plans. I’ll get the takeout.” He offered.
Ethan didn’t hesitate. “Sure. Tim’s out of town, and my best friend has a sick wife and baby. All my other friends are into outdoor stuff or movies and stuff like that, and with my allergies, I can’t hike or sit in a movie theatre, so as long as you don’t mind me sneezing, hopefully less than tonight, I’m in. Get to know each other better.”
Freddie did not mind Ethan’s sneezing one bit.
“Exactly. And as long as you don’t mind mine.”
He walked Ethan to the door. Ethan turned to look at him. “You never did ask me what my intentions with Tim are.”
“Let’s save that for tomorrow night.” Freddie teased. “How does Indian food sound?”
“Great!” Ethan walked out to his car where Freddie heard him sneezing loudly as he got in and drove off. Freddie walked back in and collapsed on the couch. Yes, this day had ended nicely, he thought.
Aggedy Ann 