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Note: I do not own the characters, or anything else connected with them or Universal studios. This is written strictly for my personal satisfaction and no profits/monies are made from it. Want to sue; you'll get my student loans. I have no medical expertise, and any mistakes are mine. I tried not to do much medical side of it, for just that reason. Finally, this is dedicated to Tig, who has waited (how long now?), for a story I promised her I would write. I very rarely write anymore,(RL leaves me very little time) but I just couldn't resist her “Begging” post, and this real life incident came back to mind. Don't ask me when the next one will come out though (if ever).
It all started with the date. Who would've thought one date, well two dates, if you count the evening before, could cause such misery? Apparently, I didn't, thought Johnny as he sneezed again, more violently than the last time. “Johnny, are you sure you're okay to work?” Roy asked for the umpteenth time. They were in the locker room changing for their shift. He can be such a worrywart, John thought. No, that's not fair, he's just concerned, admonishing himself in his head. “I'm fine, Roy, really. Thanks for caring, but it's nothing”. “What's nothing?” Chet asked as he strolled into the room. “Nothing is no…” started Johnny, ”Achoo! Achoo!” the sneezing getting the best of him again. “He's been like that since he got here,” said Roy, “And since yesterday when I called him.” “I'm telling you I'm fine!” said Johnny, getting annoyed. “I don't have a temperature, I don't have chills, I don't even have a stuffed up nose!” “Okay, whatever you say,“ Roy said, holding his hands up in front of him. He turned and finished buttoning his shirt. “So, Gage,” Chet drawled, If you don't have a cold, why do you keep sneezing?” Johnny mumbled incoherently as he reached in his locker for his uniform shirt. “What's that Gage? We can't hear you. Chet leaned closer to Johnny. John sighed. Roy and Chet were backing him in a corner, communication-wise. He could tell by looking at both of them, he wasn't going to get away without giving an answer. At least Roy looks concerned. Chet just looks curiously nosy. “I keep sneezing because of Christine,” he relented. “Christine? Isn't she the one you had a date with this weekend?” Roy asked. “Two, actually. Both nights, “John said. Johnny turned away from Roy quickly. “Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!” “Geez, Gage, keep it to yourself, will ya?” Chet groused, standing directly where Johnny had turned to. He strolled over to his locker, and grabbed some Kleenex from inside. “Here,” he said, handing some to John. “ So, you're allergic to Christine,” he mused. “No, I'm not! Thanks for this,” holding up the Kleenex, “I am not allergic to Christine.” “So why are you sneezing because of her?” Roy asked. “Well, it's not exactly her, it's her roommate.” Johnny sneezed again, and again. “Are you going to be able to stop long enough to get this story out?” Chet asked. Johnny glared at him. “I picked up Christine on Friday night from her place, and her roommate had given her a new powdered perfume thing to try that night and while we were out, I was sneezing a bit. So was Christine, but it wasn't a lot, so neither of us thought anything of it.” “And things went well?” Roy asked Johnny grinned at the memory. “Very well.” He finished buttoning his shirt. “So we made plans for the next night to have dinner at her place.” He sneezed again. “Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!” “You're going to end up with a nosebleed if you keep sneezing so much,” Chet said. “Gee thanks, Chet. Just what I wanted to hear,” Johnny groaned. “So it was the perfume?” Roy asked. “It turns out it wasn't perfume or perfumed powder.” Johnny looked at Chet warily. “ Her roommate is a practical joker. She actually gave Christine a container full of sneezing powder, and mislabeled it. Chet was grinning like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. “Oh, that's gotta be a classic in the making. What a stunt!” he crowed. “Chet, don't you start learning from this! I never want any variation of this again!” Johnny exclaimed. “I don't get it,” Roy mused, “if this was two days ago, why are you still sneezing now?” Johnny glared at Chet, who was trying hard not to laugh, for his sake as well as Johnny's. Johnny sneezed two more times, before he could answer Roy's question. When he finally stopped, he took a deep breath, and answered. “We didn't know until last night, when Christine broke out in non stop sneezing during dinner. She was sneezing, then I was sneezing, and her roommate was grinning like crazy. “What happened last night?” Both Roy and Chet asked at the same time. “Apparently, while Christine was getting ready for our date, her roommate decided to cover all dining room rug and chairs in this powder. The furniture was already white, so we had no idea.” “Achoo! Achoo!” “So, while we were walking around and stuff, it was all getting knocked into the air, and we were inhaling it, both ways. When we could finally catch our breaths after sneezing so much, her roommate confessed what she did on both nights. Apparently, she didn't realize it would be such a reaction.” “Oh, wow!” exclaimed Chet. Roy whistled. “Well, we know why you're sneezing a lot now. You must have inhaled a good dose of it. At least, you weren't allergic to it.” Johnny sneezed some more. “Actually, we got off lucky. If we had inhaled a ton of stuff, who knows how well Christine or I would be breathing right now.” Chet and Roy looked at each other, and pondered the thought. It definitely could have had a worse outcome. “Um...Johnny, you did go the emergency room, right? To get checked out, I mean?” Chet asked. Johnny looked at Chet. If the look on his face were any indication, he wouldn't have to worry about Chet ever using sneezing powder on him. “Yes, Chet, we did. It's just going to take time to get it all out, so to speak.” With that, Johnny sneezed again. “Bet the room mate didn't find it so funny after all,” Roy said. “No, she didn't. She got real upset when she realized it could cause a lot of harm. Swore up and down, she never play a joke again.” “Too bad.” Chet paused. “Say, John, I don't suppose I could get her number from you? I could always use some new ideas, harmless ones at least.” “Chet, are you nuts?” John said as he got up and headed to the door out to the bay. “Willingly give you more ammunition to use on me? I don't think so.” Johnny walked out to the bay area. “Come on John!” Chet headed out the door after Johnny. He opened it just in time to hear Johnny sneezing again. We could double date! For any new tricks, I'll pick a temporary pigeon first…” Roy just watched Chet follow out the door and sighed. It was going to be a long shift. But he wouldn't have it any other way. ** THE END ** Note: Sneezing Powder and various other substances similar to it were declared hazardous and toxic in Canada in 1985, due to the chemical components. It has been forbidden to be manufactured, sold, or imported since. On a personal note, growing up in the late 70's, one of my sister's friends (age 17 at the time) decided to get even with her brother who was always teasing her. So she bought a bunch of sneezing powder, itching powder and other “joke shop” items, and proceeded to douse his clothes, bed sheets, and other items of his with the stuff. End result, the boy inhaled so much of the powders unknowingly; he went into respiratory arrest, and to make a long story short, ended up with brain damage. His sister, (now in her mid 40's) to this day, still hasn't gotten over it, even with counseling sessions and forgiveness from their family (brother included). This “joke item” can scar lung tissue, hinder respiratory tracts, and damage blood vessels. It can cause illnesses as minor as headaches and congestion to brain damage and death. Please do not consider sneezing powder a joke or fun thing for kids to play with. |