Dustin rushed into the living room as he heard Ethan sneezing, a loud ‘Ahhdzhoo!,” a crash and a thud. He got there just in time to see his best friend lying on the floor in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. “You ok, man? What happened?”
Ethan looked up at him, face flushing red. “I sneezed…..and I was dizzy, so I tripped on the stairs.”
“Why are you dizzy?” Ethan had had a cold for the past week and hadn’t been eating well. Dustin’s suspicions on the dizziness were confirmed with Ethan’s answer.
“I was coming to get something to eat, I swear! My blood sugar is low.”
“How low?”
Ethan told him as he sat up, and Dustin handed over a piece of cold pizza that he had on the plate he still carried.
Ethan made a face. He Hated cold pizza. And Dustin gave him one right back. “I’ll make you something more to your liking in a moment, but you start by eating that. Come in the kitchen when you’re done.”
A few minutes later, Ethan was in the kitchen, throwing away the pizza crust. Dustin had orange juice and an omelet waiting for him. “Thanks.” He said hoarsely, burying his head in his arm and sneezing again. “Hahdzhoo!” He took a tissue and tried vainly to blow his stuffy nose.
Dustin noted that Ethan was pale with flushed cheeks and bright eyes. “After breakfast, I want to check your temperature after you recheck your blood sugar.”
Ethan nodded, starting in on the cheese omelet. He knew how sick he was, and he sensed Dustin had figured that out. 20 minutes later, he was done eating and poking his finger. “It’s 102.” He told Dustin. “Looks like I can go to gym class.”
Dustin gave him a stormy look and handed him the thermometer. Ethan slipped it under his tongue until it beeped. Dustin snatched it back, not trusting Ethan to be truthful about the reading. “101.2” he reported. “I don’t think you’re going to gym class.”
“Hahdzhoo.” Ethan sneezed again, covering with his wrist, not quick enough for a tissue. This time Dustin saw him rub the right side of his face including his ear.
“Bless you. You know you’re sneezing different, right?”
Ethan stared at him.
“It’s all stuffy and doesn’t seem to help any. Neither does blowing your nose. That’s new the last day or so.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. You did this last year, too. Now, I want to see if you did any damage when you hit your head.” He pulled his keys out flashlight attached and Ethan’s stomach sank. Dustin knew.
Dustin handed Ethan a tissue. “I have a feeling you might want this. Eyes open wide.” He shined the light into Ethan’s left eye, removed it, then waited. He didn’t have to wait long.
“Ahdzhoo.”
“Right eye.” Dustin repeated his actions with the right eye. Ethan’s response was faster and more violent this time.
“HahdZhoo!” He again gave a stuffy blow into the tissue.
“You did that last year, in skills lab when we learned to assess pupillary response, and you had a sinus infection. Remember what you said then?”
Ethan hesitated, then looked down at the floor. “It only happens when I have a sinus infection.” He said, stuffily.
“Do you *want* me to palpate your sinuses?”
Ethan gave him a pained look. “No.”
“And what’s up with the ear?”
Ethan sighed, again looking at the floor. “Pain, pressure, last 3 or 4 days. Before the sinus pain.” He paused and snatched up a tissue. “HahAhdzhoo. I think it’s infected.”
“I think it’s urgent care time,” Dustin said, gently.
“I can’t go to student health services?” Ethan protested. “I just need an antibiotic.”
“They don’t like it when you come in with low blood sugars. You know that. They just ship you to urgent care, anyway.”
“Hahdzhoo. Fine.” Ethan grabbed his shoes and allowed Dustin to drive him to urgent care.
Ethan sat, slumped against the window of Dustin’s car on the drive to urgent care. “I’m gonna get in trouble for missing gym, you know.” He pointed out, petulantly.
Dustin sighed. “You have documentation on your blood sugars. You’ve been there all last week sick, and you’ll get a note from urgent care.”
“Fine.” Ethan grumbled, in a hoarse, stuffy voice. “Hadzhoo.” He picked the tissue box up off the floor of Dustin’s car; thank goodness for Dustin and his constant allergies; and blew his nose, clearing it slightly. He looked around for somewhere to toss the tissue; finding none, he crammed it in his pocket. He rubbed his throbbing ear and sighed, keeping the tissue box on his lap.
Fortunately, urgent care was just a few miles away and traffic was light, so they were there within 10 minutes. Dustin led Ethan into the building, Ethan still clutching the tissues. “Go get yourself checked in.” Dustin ordered, taking a seat and the tissues.
Ethan walked to the check in desk, told them he was there for a possible sinus and ear infection and verified his information before returning to sit with Dustin. He slumped down in the chair but was immediately brought to attention when Dustin sneezed.
“HahKishoo-kishoo-kshoo-Kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo. Hakishoo”. He blew his nose as quietly as possible three times.
“Bless you. Allergies getting to you?” Dustin’s allergies were mild, but they plagued him year round in a combination of indoor and outdoor allergies.
“Thanks.” Dustin sniffled. “No, I finally caught your cold. Started feeling it yesterday afternoon with a sore throat and congestion. The cough and sneezing started last night.”
“Sorry, man. Hope it doesn’t get as bad as this.”
“It won’t,” Dustin informed him, “I am capable of taking care of myself.”
“HahAhdzhoo.” Was Ethan’s response, and Dustin passed back the tissues.
“Bless you.” Dustin took a long look at Ethan and couldn’t help feeling bad for his friend. He looked exhausted with dark circles under his eyes, which meant despite the NyQuil, this cold or sinus infection or whatever it was was keeping him from sleeping. His nose was pink, and his lips were chapped. As he had noted previously, his eyes were bright and his cheeks were flushed with fever. He had slumped back down in the chair and closed his eyes, tissues tucked in next to him.
“Ethan O’Connell?” The nurse called him back for triage. Ethan left Dustin and the tissues and went and sat in the small room on the hard plastic chair. He reviewed his medications with her, gave her an overview of his symptoms, including his lack of appetite and low blood sugars, and waited while she took his vital signs. Despite the DayQuil, his temperature had risen to 101.5. “I’m going to take you back to a room.” She informed him. “The doctor will see you shortly.”
“My friend’s in the waiting room. Can he come back?”
“Let’s get you settled, and then I’ll get him.” She got Ethan arranged in a room, then brought Dustin back.
“Hahhdzhoo!”
Dustin heard Ethan before he entered the room. “Bless you.” He grinned as the nurse let him in.
“Thanks.” Ethan mumbled. “D’ya think I could get one of those?” He asked, eyeing the box of tissues. Dustin handed over the box, and Ethan stuffily blew his nose, leaning back against the cot and sighing. He vainly attempted to blow his nose again, this time releasing some of the congestion in a trumpeting blow. He blushed at the sound. “Sorry.”
It was Dustin’s turn to sigh. “Just do what you need to do to clear your nose. Forget I’m here.” He scrubbed at his nose. Watching Ethan sneeze and blow his nose made his own nose itch and run. He sniffed once, then turned away. “Hahkishoo-kishoo-kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo. HahKishoo!” He blocked the sneezes with his forearm. He straightened up and turned back to Ethan.
“Ahdzhoo” Ethan sneezed in response, then offered Dustin the tissues.
The doctor arrived a few minutes later. “Which one of you is Ethan?”
Ethan limply raised his hand. He wasn’t looking forward to what was to come.
“Tell me what’s been going on?” She asked, sitting on the stool next to the computer.
Ethan explained how he had caught a cold about a week ago, and he just wasn’t getting better.
Dustin cleared his throat in the background.
“Ok, it’s getting worse.” He admitted reluctantly.
“Symptoms?” She asked.
“Sore throat, headache, cough, congestion, sneezing, my face hurts, my right ear hurts.” He trailed off.
Dustin cleared his throat again.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Have your blood sugars been low at all?”
“Once or twice.”
Dustin sighed and cut in. “He’s had 4 that I know of, including the one this morning.”
“5 times. I’m just not hungry.”
“What was your blood sugar this morning?”
He told her. “That’s low. But better after you ate. Did you take insulin?”
“Yeah.” He admitted. “I was told not to take it if I’m under 90, and after I ate I was fine to take it.”
“I’m going to check another blood sugar on you. How long have you been diabetic?”
“Since I was 7.”
“So I shouldn’t have to lecture you on the importance of eating regularly, especially on insulin.”
Ethan shook his head, cupping his hands over his nose. “Hadzhoo.” He blew his nose again, wincing at how sore it was.
“And what’s worse?”
“Ear, face pain, headache, congestion, sneezing.”
“He doesn’t usually sneeze like that.” Dustin interjected from the back. “It’s not usually so…stuffy.”
Ethan nodded. “Usually, it’s like Hachoo,” he tried to demonstrate. “Not this.”
The doctor nodded. “Im going to have them check your blood sugar again.” She informed him. “See where it’s at right now. And now I’m going to check you over.”
She had him sit up on the cot and began inspecting his mouth and nose. “Which ear is bothering you?”
“The right.”
She started with the left, then moved to the right. “Good news is the left is fine, but you’ve got a pretty good infection in the right. I’m going to check your eyes out now.
Ethan clutched his crumpled tissue and nodded. She shone the light in his left eye, and just as this morning, he sneezed as soon as she moved the scope away. “Ahdzhoo.”
“Bless you.” She moved the scope over to the right, and had barely finished when Ethan jammed the tissue to his nose again. “HahAhdzhoo!”
“Bless you again. That happen often?” She asked?
“Only when I have a sinus infection.” Ethan admitted.
“Let me check your sinuses.” She began gently palpating the sinus cavities in the left side of Ethan’s face before switching to the right, noticing that in that side, he winced at the slightest pressure.
“Painful?
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Sinus and ear infection. Before I prescribe the antibiotics, any allergies?”
Ethan sniffled. “Penicillin.”
There was a knock at the door, and the lab tech came in to collect the blood sugar. She reported the number as 97.
“Where do you usually run?” The doctor asked.
“100-120.”
“Ok. Just make sure you’re eating. Meals and snacks. 6 times a day. You know this. I know it’s hard when you don’t feel well, but you need to do this. I’m sure your friend will help with that.”
“Yeah. He does.”
“I’m going to go write the prescriptions, and the nurse will cover your discharge.”
“Is there anything that will help more with the congestion? DayQuil’s not, and I can barely breathe through my nose.”
She wrote a list on a piece of paper. “Try some of these. Between these and the antibiotics, you should be feeling better soon.”
“Hehdzhoo. Thanks.” He gave a futile blow into the tissue.
The nurse came in, covered his discharge instructions, and sent them on their way. Once again,Ethan slumped against the passenger side door for the short drive to Walmart.
Dustin pulled into the parking lot and miraculously, found a spot close to the entrance. “Come on. Let’s go get your antibiotic. Got the prescription…and that list?”
Ethan nodded, holding up the papers. “Can’t you do it? I’ll just wait here.” He sniffled deeply.
“I don’t think they’ll give me your pills.” Dustin pointed out. “And the sooner you give it to them, and the sooner you get it, the sooner you can start feeling better.”
Ethan undid his seatbelt and got out of the car, following Dustin into the store. He dropped off his prescription, was told there would be a 15 minute wait, and returned to Dustin. “15 minutes.” He said, stuffily, pulling a tissue from his pocket. “HahdZhoo!”
“Bless you. I’ll go pick up the stuff from the list she gave us, more cold medicine and tissues.” Ethan handed the list over. “You go find a snack you’ll actually eat. I’ll meet you over there.”
Ethan wandered off towards the grocery department while Dustin hit the cold and flu aisle. He three DayQuil, NyQuil, cough drops into the cart. He grabbed the items from the list the doctor had given them, not knowing what Ethan would want or actually use…” Sudafed, saline spray, vapor rub, a hot pack. Then he went in search of an extra pillow and the tissues. He met Ethan in the grocery aisle, holding a pack of string cheese and a carton of yogurt.
“Snack now.” Ethan held up the string cheese. “And I thought this might feel good on my throat.” He indicated the yogurt.
Dustin nodded. “Let’s grab something soup and oj, then maybe your prescription will be ready.”
“What’s with the pillow?”
“You’re supposed to sleep with your head elevated.”
“There’s an extra pillow in the linen closet.” Ethan reminded him.
“I’ll go put this back. Get 6 cans of soup and 2 gallons of juice. I’ll meet you at the pharmacy.”
Ethan paid for his prescription at the pharmacy and he and Dustin headed to the check out where he paid for the groceries. “What is half this stuff?” He asked.
“It was on the doctor’s list to help cleat your sinuses.” Dustin explained, turning away from the register. “Hahkishoo-kishoo-kshoo-Kshoo-shoo. Hahkishoo.” He sniffled and grabbed some of the bags as Ethan grabbed the rest. After loading up the car, they headed back to the apartment, Dustin making Ethan eat 2 pieces string cheese on the way there.
Once back at the apartment, Dustin got Ethan an oversized glass of water. “Take your antibiotic.” He instructed. Ethan complied. “I’ll put everything away; go rest.” He said gently.
Ethan headed for the couch, wrapping a blanket around himself, listening to Dustin put the food away. Dustin left the items the doctor suggested on the counter, then went upstairs to put away the cold medicine and get the extra pillow on Ethan’s bed.
For Ethan, Ethan’s room was in disarray. He hadn’t made his bed that morning, and there were several crumpled tissues surrounding the wastebasket. Thank goodness they didn’t have a dog. But their lease didn’t allow it, and Ethan was mildly allergic to dogs. He’d learned that the first time Ethan had gone home with him. They’d stopped for antihistamines on the way, but Ethan had still started sneezing a few hours in and sneezed the entire trip home. His pajamas lay on the floor. He really didn’t feel well, Dustin noted. In contrast to his own, Ethan’s was typically spotless. He st the pillow on the bed and headed back downstairs.
He grabbed the items off the counter and went to join Ethan, carrying an extra box of tissues. He sat next to his friend. “So, do we need to mark on the calendar the first time in how many years that you didn’t make your bed?” He teased.
“Your fault.” Ethan informed him. “I needed to eat. I was going to go back and do it, but you made me go to Urgent Care instead.”
“Tissues on the floor, pajamas on the floor.”
“Head hurt too much to bend over to pick them up.”
Dustin gave him a sympathetic look. “Want me to get it?” He asked.
Ethan looked horrified. “You can’t pick up my used tissues. You’ll get sick.”
“Too late, remember.” Dustin chuckled. “Well, let’s get you feeling better.” He held up the Sudafed. “When did you take DayQuil?”
“Around 7:30.”
“Around 2, you can take this.” He looked at the note. “No other cold medicines. You can take Tylenol and cough syrup though. It’s a stronger decongestant.”
Ethan nodded.
“There’s saline spray, but I think we need you less congested first. Drinking plenty of water.” He indicated the glass, and Ethan took a drink. “And vapor rub. We’ll start with that, ok. Shirt off.”
Ethan slowly slipped off his shirt and wrapped the blanket over his shoulders, leaving his chest exposed.
“Cold?” Ethan nodded. “This is gonna be cold too, sorry.” He began rubbing the ointment into Ethan’s chest with string, firm strokes. “My mom used to do this for me when I was a kid. I used to get bad colds that messed with my asthma, and this was the only way I could sleep.”
Ethan nodded, rubbing at his nose with his left hand, the one not obscured by Dustin.
“Tissue?” Dustin offered over the box as Ethan turned his head away and sneezed into his free hand.
“HahdZhoo!” He took several tissues from the box, scrubbed at his nose and kept them clutched in his hand. “It makes my nose burn.” He complained, sniffling.
Dustin went back to rubbing the ointment in, watching Ethan surreptitiously wipe at his nose.
“Starting to work?” Dustin asked. He took a tissue and lightly blew his nose. “It’s working on me.”
“You’re not as stuffed up.” Ethan sniffled. “Ahdzhoo!” He blew his nose, both men noting that the blow was actually semi productive.
“It seems to be bringing out the sneezes.” Dustin commented.
Ethan sniffled again. “Yeah. Is that normal?”
Dustin shrugged. “It’s never happened to me, but I can see where the smell would be irritating.” He finished rubbing the ointment in. “Just sit there for awhile, ok. Wanna watch some TV?” He asked, picking up the remote.
“Whatever.” Ethan rubbed at his nose again. “Can I have some more tissues?”
Dustin set the box between them as he found something to watch.
“HahAhdzhoo!”
“Bless you.”
Ethan blew his nose again, more productive this time. “How long do I have to keep this on?”
“Can you do 15 minutes?”
Ethan gave him a puppy dog look.
“Hold on.” Dustin pulled a tissue from the box and waited half a second. “Hahkishoo-kishoo-kshoo-kshoo-Kshoo-shoo-shoo. Hahkishoo. 10 minutes.” He sniffled.
Ethan sighed. “Fine.” He went to blow his nose again and ended up muffling a sneeze into the wad of tissues. “Hatdzhoo.”
He tried to focus on the show Dustin had picked out for the next 10 minutes, sneezing three more times.
“Hatchzhoo.”
After the fourth sneeze in that time frame, Dustin looked at him. “Time’s up. Go take a shower. A long, hot shower.”
Ethan blew his nose and headed upstairs.
He returned 20 minutes later, this time wearing sweats and a worn out tshirt. He found his spot on the couch, wrapped the blanket around him, and leaned against the arm of the couch.
“How are you doing now?” Dustin asked.
“Sneezed through the entire shower. Then I blew my nose for 5 minutes.” Ethan sniffed, nose starting to run after the vapor rub and shower.
“You sound clearer.” Dustin pointed out.
“Hadchoo! Starting to. Head is pounding from the sneezing though.”
“Wanna try a hot pack while I make lunch? It might help your head.”
Ethan shrugged. “Sure. Can’t hurt.”
Dustin vacated the couch, and Ethan laid down. Dustin was back with the hot pack minutes later. He wrapped it in a kitchen towel and placed it over the top half of Ethan’s face. “I’ll get you when lunch is ready.”
Ethan had to admit, the heat was helping. Not only with his headache, but the pain in his sinuses. He relaxed and waited for Dustin to come get him. He could hear Dustin sneeze in the kitchen and noticed that his roommate’s quiet sneezes were starting to get stronger, a sure sign that the cold he had given him was setting in.
He mused on the difference between their sneezes. Ethan’s sneeze really seemed more suited to Dustin and vice versa. Ethan was maybe 5’6” in the right shoes and had a slight slender build in contrast to the 6’2” Dustin who had a much more sturdy, muscular, athletic build. Ethan’s powerful, explosive, single sneeze seemed like sneezes you’d expect from someone like Dustin. Dustin’s quiet, rapid, fittish sneezes seemed more suited to someone like Ethan. It had happened more than once that one had been blessed when the other one had sneezed.
Dustin appeared in the living room. “I know you’re not hungry, but I’ve got soup and sandwiches in the kitchen.” Ethan grabbed his test kit from the table where he had left it that morning, then took his insulin.
He sat down at the table in front of a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a ham and cheese sandwich. Dustin sat across from him and started eating. Ethan picked, but after he has eaten half his sandwich and ¾ of a bowl of soup, Dustin let him go back to the couch.
“Hadchoo!” He sneezed, flopping down on the couch. He blew his nose and curled up under the blanket, tissues in hand. Within minutes, his exhaustion took over, and he was asleep.
When he woke up a few hours later, he was stuffed up again. He gave his nose a few blows to try to clear it with little success. He noticed a blister pack with a pill sitting on the coffee table with a fresh glass of water and a note written in Dustin’s familiar scrawl.
‘Take this when you wake up. I’ll be in the kitchen doing homework.”
Ethan popped the pill out of the packet and drank the glass of water. He could hear Dustin talking in the kitchen…on the phone with Beth, he figured out quickly.
“I know it’s date night.” He heard Dustin protest. “I just don’t want to leave him alone right now.” A pause. “Sweety, he’s got a sinus infection and an ear infection. His blood sugar crashed this morning. I want to make sure he eats.” Another pause for Beth’s response. “I know he’s an adult, but he’s stubborn. He’s not good at taking care of himself. Just…second…sneeze.” He managed. “Hakishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo. HahKishShoo!” Beth spoke again. “Thanks. I’ve, uh, caught his cold. Hold on a sec.”. Ethan heard Dustin blow his nose. “Sorry. Honestly, worrying about Ethan aside, I’d rather stay in. It’s starting to catch up with me.” Ethan heard Dustin admit. “Can you just come over here? Dinner and a movie?” A pause. “He’ll probably hole up in his room and sleep. Guy is exhausted.” Beth’s answer. “Thank you sweetie. 5:00?”
Ethan heard Dustin hang up the phone and laid back down, pretending he hadn’t been listening. He heard Dustin run upstairs then comeback into the living room. “You got your pill, good.”
Ethan nodded. “Hadchoo! Yeah.” He looked at his watch. “I’ll go finish my sandwich for a snack.”
“I’ll go get it if you can wait a few minutes. Beth is coming over for dinner, so I want to see if I need to go to the store.” He got up to comb through the fridge, returning with Ethan’s sandwich. “I gotta run out for a few things. You gonna be ok alone?”
Ethan shot him a dirty look. “I can take care of myself, you know.” He took a sip of water.
“Don’t drink anything else for 20 minutes, check your temperature.”
Ethan nodded, switching on the TV and leaning back against the couch.
30 minutes later, he remembered to check his temperature. Down to 101, he noted. He scrawled that on the back of the note Dustin had left him, lest he forget or fall asleep before Dustin returned, then curled back up on the couch. He was asleep when Dustin got back.
Dustin saw the number in Ethan’s chicken scratch on the sheet of paper, grabbed some Tylenol from the bathroom, and shook Ethan awake. Ethan gave him a groggy glare. “Take this for your temperature. Might help with your headache too.”
“What is it?” Ethan mumbled, suspicious after the vapor rub this morning.
“Tylenol.” Dustin told him patiently, shaking two into his hand.
“How did you know I had a headache?”
“You did earlier. And you get squinty with a headache.”
“Oh.” Ethan swallowed the Tylenol and curled back up on the couch. “Hadshoo!” He sneezed into his forearm, grabbing a tissue to blow his nose. “How are you feeling?” He asked Dustin.
“Not as bad as you.” Dustin teased. “Stuffy and sneezy mostly. Cough isn’t too bad.” He took one of Ethan’s tissues and blew his nose. “Need anything?” When Ethan shook his head, he continued. “I’m gonna go upstairs and take a nap before Beth gets here.
2 hours later, the doorbell rang and Dustin was still upstairs. Sniffling, Ethan padded his way to the door and let Beth in. “Dustin was taking a nap.” He said stuffily. “I’ll run up and get him.”
“No need.” Came a voice from behind them, and a freshly showered and changed Dustin appeared. “I’m awake.” He bent to give Beth a kiss on the forehead. She moved to kiss him, and he stopped her. “Don’t want to give you my cold.” He said, gently.
She nodded, giving him a hug instead. He took her hand and led her into the kitchen. “I thought chicken, green beans and potatoes.” He suggested.
“Sounds good to me.” She said, as he started pulling ingredients out of the fridge and setting everything on the counter. “You have recipes or are they in your head?”
He paused, turning away from her. “Hahkishoo-kishoo-kishoo-Kshoo-shoo-shoo. Hahkishoo.” Grabbing a paper towel, he blew his nose and washed his hands. “In my head. I’ll tell you what to do.” He started grabbing spices.
He mixed the spices in a bowl and had her dip the chicken in egg and then the spices and place it in a frying pan. While that was cooking, he added butter and garlic to the green beans and had her make a packet of instant mashed potatoes – he hated mashing potatoes. When everything was done, he called for Ethan.
“Ethan! Dinner’s ready.”
Ethan came in a few minutes later after checking his blood sugar and taking his insulin. Dustin handed him a plate of food. “Thanks.” Ethan carried his plate of food back to the living room and started eating while Beth and Dustin sat at the kitchen table.
He could hear Dustin coughing from the living room and heard him sneeze a couple times, with Beth blessing him, her tone getting concerned with the third set of sneezes.
When he was done eating, he slipped back in the kitchen to put his dishes in the sink.
“Hey, you ate everything!” Dustin exclaimed.
“It was pretty good.” He admitted. “And I was kinda hungry. When you guys are done eating, I’ll clean up.” He offered.
“That sounds great. Thanks.” Dustin said. “Beth, show him what you brought him.”
Beth got up and grabbed a Tupperware container off the counter, opening it. “Peanut butter protein balls.” She explained. “I eat them after I run, but they should be a good snack for you.” Beth was studying to be a nutritionist.
“They look great. Thanks.” Ethan told her before turning away from the food and muffling a sneeze into the crook of his elbow. “Hahshoo.”
“Bless you. Are you joining us for the movie?” Dustin asked.
Ethan rubbed his nose and shook his head. “If I’m not sneezing through it, I’ll be sleeping through it. I’m gonna go upstairs and try to study.”
Beth shot him a grateful look. “Well, you can try one of these for your night time snack.” She grinned.
“Looking forward to it. You know how I feel about peanut butter.”
He went back to the living room until Beth and Dustin finished dinner. When they came in to watch their movie, he went and cleaned the kitchen, then holed up in his room.
Beth and Dustin settled on the couch, Beth reaching for the blanket to cover them with.
“Wait. Don’t use that one. Ethan’s been using it the last few days.” Dustin grabbed the knitted throw off the chair, tossing Ethan’s blanket there.
He held up a couple movies for her approval, and when she chose, popped it in. He sat down on the couch next to her and snuggled against her, placing the tissue box Ethan had left on his lap, knowing he’d need it sooner over later.
It was decidedly sooner as not five minutes into the movie, he pitched forward with a strong set of sneezes. “HaKishoo-kiShoo-Kshoo-Kshoo-Shoo-Shoo-shoo. HaKishoo!” He sat there for a second, caching his breath.
“Bless you. You ok?” Beth asked.
Dustin nodded, blowing his nose. “Ran out of air in the last one on the set.” He explained, coughing and taking a sip of his water. He leaned against Beth’s shoulder and rubbed his eyes.
“Your cold seems to be picking up.” She commented.
He sniffled. “I think part of it is allergies. I think something set me off when I went to the grocery store. My eyes itch, and I’ve been sneezing a lot more since then.”
Beth nodded. Dustin never got a break from his allergies. “Poor thing. Allergies and a cold.” She murmured.
“Um, speaking of colds and allergies…” he trailed off and cleared his throat. “I, uh, don’t think I can go for dinner at your parents on Sunday.”
She gave him a confused look.
“The cats.” He explained.
She gave him a confused look. “I didn’t think you were that allergic.” She said. “Usually, it’s just itchy eyes and a stuffy nose, maybe a little bit of sneezing when you’re there.”
“You haven’t seen me around them with a cold before.” He sniffled. “Take the itchy eyes and congestion and add in a lot of sneezing and some wheezing.” He explained. “I go from slightly allergic to a whole lot allergic.”
“Well, they’ll miss you, but they’ll understand. I didn’t realize it got that bad when you’re sick, and I don’t want to set off your asthma, either.” Once Dustin’s asthma was triggered, it took hours for him to get it back under control. Fortunately, that didn’t happen often. “It’s not like we don’t do this at least once a month. You’ll be better next time.” She tried to sound upbeat, but she still looked disappointed.
“I’m sorry.” He coughed lightly. “If it helps, I ha…ahhh…hahkishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo. Hahkishoo. I hate my allergies.”
She kissed his cheek. “As much as you hate being sick?”
“Not quite,” he sniffled, grabbing a tissue and taking care of his runny nose. “I’ve gotten used to the allergies…they just…complicate things.”
“Like dinner at my parents.”
“Yeah. Sorry I can’t make it.”
“It’s really ok.” She squeezed his hand.
He yawned.
“Tired? Or is it the movie?” She teased.
“‘M tired. It’s been a busy day.” He coughed again. “And I feel pretty lousy.” He admitted, rubbing his eyes and then his nose again.
She gave him a sympathetic smile. “Go get your pillow and lay down.” She instructed.
Dustin went upstairs, peeking in on Ethan as he passed the doorway. Ethan had given up on homework and was sprawled out on his bed. Dustin shook his head, grabbed his pillow and headed back downstairs.
Beth placed his pillow in her lap. “Lay down.” She ordered. He placed his head on her lap, and she covered him with the blanket.
Dustin was just getting settled when the sneezes struck again. Turning his head away from her, he cupped his hands over his nose. “Hahkishoo-kishoo-Kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo. Hakishoo.” He sniffled wetly and looked around for the tissues.
“Bless you, baby.” Beth snagged the box of tissues off the coffee table and handed them to him so he could blow his nose.
He turned back to face her. “Thanks.”
She squeezed his shoulder. “Just rest, ok. The movie’s not that great anyway.”
Dustin gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks.” He whispered.
He was asleep within a half hour, sneezing once more in that time frame.
Lightly snoring on Beth’s lap was how Ethan found his roommate when he came down at 8:30 for his snack. “He ok?”
“Tired. Your cold plus he said something kicked his allergies up.”
Ethan shot a sympathetic look at the sleeping Dustin. “And he’s been taking care of me all day.”
She nodded. “That’s Dustin though.”
“How’s the movie?”
“To be honest, terrible. I just didn’t want to disturb him. Besides, I picked it out; I should watch it.”
Ethan laughed softly. “If you must. I just came down for a snack. Then I’m going to bed. Tell him I sai…Haitchoo!”
Dustin started awake. “What time is it?” He mumbled sleepily.
“Sorry.” Ethan apologized. “I didn’t mean to wake you. And it’s 8:30.”
“I missed most of the movie.”
“Don’t worry. It’s awful.” Beth reassured him. “You want to go have a snack with Ethan, then you both can have NyQuil and go to bed.”
Dustin nodded. “That sounds good to me.” He said, clearing his throat. He followed them into the kitchen and took a peanut butter protein ball from Beth along with a glass of milk. He watched to be sure Ethan took his antibiotic. “Temp in 20 minutes.” He told Ethan.
Ethan nodded. “These are fantastic, Beth.” He enthused. “I think I could eat these anytime.”
“Like when you’re sick?” Dustin asked.
Ethan nodded. “They’re easy to eat.” He explained. “They taste just right.”
“Thanks.” Beth told him. “I’m glad we found something you’ll eat when you’re sick.”
Ethan yawned. “I’m gonna get ready for bed.” He said, ducking out of the room so Beth and Ethan could say goodnight.
“You need sleep,” Beth said, once Ethan was out of the room.
He nodded, having no argument to come back with.
“I’ll call you in the morning, see how you feel, see if you need anything,” she promised, leaning up and kissing his cheek. “God, not being able to properly kiss you sucks.”
“I know.” He bent down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.” He walked her out to her car, then walked back in and headed upstairs.
Ethan sat on his bed when Dustin poked his head in. “Let me get ready, then we’ll check your temperature.” Ethan nodded. Dustin was back a few minutes later with thermometer, handing it to Ethan.
“100.7.” Ethan reported. “Down almost a degree.”
Dustin relaxed. “You are starting to be on the mend.” He agreed, relieved that Ethan would be starting to feel better. Then he could let himself rest.
Aggedy Ann 