The Camping Trip


     "I'm just going to make a run over to the bathroom for a minute. I'll
be right back."
     Keith nodded, knowing what that meant.  He zipped up his sleeping
bag and handed Mandy her flashlight, which she accepted from him
appreciatively, as it was late at night and she didn't know her way
around the campgrounds. They'd only been there for an hour to set up
and sleep for the night on their way across country to meet up with a few
friends from college. Keith and Mandy were the same age and thus had
graduated together back in '95 with the other 549 in their class. Keith
was a quiet guy, with strawberry-blond hair and bright blue eyes which
could reveal his entire philosophy and emotional state to Mandy with a
mere glance. Mandy, always more perceptive and caring than she let on,
had long dark hair and dark features that Keith found so mysteriously
alluring. They'd been the best of friends since Sophomore year in college
and there was no letting up even six years later, though the relationship
had grown past friendship soon after graduation.
     "Thanks Darling," she said with a smile. "Wait up for me, would
you?"
     He nodded with a smile to match.  "Of course."
     Mandy unzipped the tent and left, hoping to be back before he fell
asleep(the long day of driving had visibly tired him out) because she did
want to have a little fun with him. But as her flashlight let her around
the dirt path, she realized that she'd forgotten her washcloth. So, she
turned back, a bit annoyed with herself. The one campground they'd
stayed at with actual bathrooms and she'd forgotten something. As she
returned, being only a few meters away from the tent, she heard the
sound of a loud sneeze which stopped her in her tracks. There was only
an RV near, and that was still a considerable ways away. The logical
answer would be that it was Keith, though Mandy couldn't remember the
last time she'd heard him sneeze, if ever, and she knew he didn't have
allergies of any kind.
     "Hatchoo!" she heard again and as she approached; she could hear
coughing, the sound growing louder and louder with each step closer.
She unzipped the tent to see Keith sitting up, fist in front of his mouth
and red in the face, his body shaking as he held in the coughs. "Mandy,"
he squeaked. "What are you <cough> doing <cough> back so soon?"
     "Forgot my washcloth."  Her brow furrowed in concern. "you
alright, Keith?"
     It seemed whatever had been was quieted now and he cleared his
throat with a firm nod.  "Right as rain, Darling. Just <cough? just
something stuck <cough, cough> in my throat, I think."
Mandy nodded, sifting through her duffel bag and withdrawing the
washcloth. She looked back over at Keith who quickly jumped, folding
both hands in his lap though it looked as they had been doing something.
"You *would* tell me if something were wrong, wouldn't you?"
     He nodded. "Oh <sniff> of course."
     She smiled, hoping she were just overly-paranoid. "Ok, I'll be right
back. This time I've got everything."
     He chuckled and sniffed again, then blew her a kiss as she left.

     Mandy returned a good fifteen minutes later feeling much better
for all but just a little worried about Keith. She reentered the tent just
in time to see and hear a third powerful sneeze, "hah-Kachoo!" His
cheeks were flushed red to see her as he rubbed vigorously at his nose.
"Oh, uh," he struggled to explain himself but was not given the chance
as another sneeze came up suddenly, "Harashoo!" this one catching him
by surprise and in reaction, he clamped a hand over his mouth and nose.
     Mandy tucked her items back into her bag and sat down on her
sleeping bag to face him, pulling her legs under her, Indian-style.
"Keith, are you ill?"
     The corners of his eyes turned down and it looked for a moment as
if he might cry. But then she heard him take in a deep breath and his
eyes closed as he let out another sneeze, "Ah-Hatcheoo!" He opened his
eyes with a great deal of reluctance only to see her soft, sympathetic
smile and her hand holding a tissue out to him.
     "Bless you, "she said as he sheepishly took it from her.  "I guess I
should take that to mean yes?"
     He shook his head. "No, <sniff> I'm definitely not sick. Not... eve-
even... uhhh... cloohh... Eh-Choo!" he rubbed at his nose, squishing up
his face, then relaxing. "Not even close. Must be something in here just
tickling my nose... dust or... pollen... or some... somethihh... ehhhehh... "
he tried as hard as he good to contain himself. "Eheh-HA-Sheoo!" he
sneezed, bending forward with force.
     She shrugged and looked down at her hands. "Well, if you don't
want to admit it, fine, but--"
     "heh-ASHOO! Choo! Sheoo! HehSheshh!" he sneezed uncontrollably.
     Mandy forgot the bit of anger she felt and went to him, offering him
a tissue, patting his back until it passed. Then she sat back down on her
own sleeping bag to look him in the face. His eyes were watering from the
force of the sneezes and his nose running a bit. His face looked sallow,
and sagging slightly as he took deep breaths of recovery. "You are
sick," she stated matter-of-factly.
     He nodded, looking down, more embarrassed than ever.
     "How long had you planned on hiding this from me?" she was no
longer angry, only worried that he thought not share such information
with her.
     He shrugged.
     Mandy shook her head, looking at his sullen face, pale, drooping.
"Darling, you know you can tell me anything."
     He nodded, still looking down. "Yeah.. I guess so..."
     She felt his forehead. "A little warm. You're probably coming down
with come sort of bug- a cold or something."
     He nodded again.
     Adding sympathetically, "Colds can be the worst." She pushed his
long bangs back, away from his face. "I'll be right back."
     Again, he nodded.
     She returned with an extra pillow and the box of tissues from the
truck. "Keith?" He looked perfectly miserable.
     "I... I'm sorry, Mandy. I <sniff> really am."
     Mandy shook her head and turned off the lantern light. "What
would you possibly have to be sorry about?"
     Keith found it a bit easier to talk to her as the darkness of the
slowly cooling night set in  around them. "For getting sick... for not
<sniff> telling you <sniff> when you asked..."
     Mandy felt her heart go out to him. "You know I'd understand. You
can tell me anything, you know that."
     "It's just-" he stopped short.
     "Yeah?"
     "When I'm sick, I get like a little kid.. and terr... eh... Hahshoo!"
She heard him blow his nose and sniff a few times before he felt sure
enough to continue. "Excuse me <sniff> I was going to say that I get
really self conscious."
     Mandy's eyes, having adjusted to the dark, were able to see his
hurt, embarrassed expression now. She sat up, propped up on one elbow.
"As long as we're having a burst of honesty here, I think it might be
right to tell you that I've got this overwhelming maternal instinct... I
mean... well, 'd love to, er, mother you a little... if you wanted me to, that
is."
     He sat up, looking at her. "You would? I mean, you wouldn't mind
taking <sniff> care of me?"
     She shook her head. "I'd love to Keith," she said, with the
emphases on the word love. She paused and let it happen naturally, "I
love you." Smiling, she scooted over to him and unzipped her sleeping
bag. "Come here."
     He smiled back, scooting over so he was in his sleeping bag but
pressed up against her, with her arm around him and his head on the
pillow with his face up against her side. 
     She hugged him close.
     "I... uh..." he began, growing silent.
     "Yes?"
     He tried to warn her, tried to hold back. "Gonna sneeeee...
Hetchoo!"
     She passed him a couple of tissues. "Poor baby," she whispered so
softly he barely heard.
     "Gee <sniff> thanks," Keith muttered with a larger sniff
afterwards. "I'b your baby, dow?"
     "Nah, not my baby." She kissed his cheek and ran her hand down
his side to his waist. "You're just mine... you know, I had some other
things planned for tonight."
     "Heh," he chuckled. "I wish... eh... Arashoo!" Hachoo! Hetcheoo!
<sniff> I wish I felt up for some <sniff> of it."
     "You don't?"
     "No, I... eh... heh...I... ehh... " He was trying to sound seductive,
desirable, as he was quite pleased at the thought of it. But right now he
felt less than energetic. His whole body felt achy and tired and his nose
was tickling him terribly. "I... I... Ehh.." it came again as if the urge had
never left him. "Hehh-Sheoo!" he sneezed, with a small groan after. "I
feel sick."
     She rubbed the back of his head. Shhh, just rest, Dear, just rest."
     Keith sniffed and sighed, able to control it well enough that the
resulting coughs were kept to a minimum. "I love you, too, <sniff>
Mandy."

                           *     *     *

     There we are, nice and comfy, eh?" she asked Keith who was now
covered in blankets and leaning back against the seat with several
pillows propping him up.
     "Yeah."
     She put the tissue box right beside him, where he could reach it.
"I'm going to go finish packing up- be right back."
     He nodded, feeling sneezy, as he had all morning. "I.. Hetchoo!
Atchoo! Harshushh! Ketchoooo!"
     "Oh, Bless you!" she exclaimed, feeling sorry for him.
     He blew his nose and nodded a thank you, sniffing as he tried to
respond but found the tickle in his nose to be too much for him.
"Harashoo! hetchoo! Hatchoo! Cheoo! Ah-Eshoo!" each sneeze throwing
him forwards a bit and letting him fall back just as the next sneeze hit
him. "Hup-Cheoo! Heshoo! Ahhshoo! Hehchoo!" He looked so weak and
helpless when he sneezed that Mandy couldn't help but find him
irresistibly adorable for it.
     She left him to finish packing up the tent and gear, then slid into
the driver's seat to see that he'd fallen asleep. "Poor, sweet thing," she
murmured, turning the key, shifting out of park to reverse, and pulling
out of the site to drive out of the campground and back onto the
highway.

     He woke coughing as Mandy pulled into the McDonalds. "Hey
sleepy-head. It's lunch time. I'm paying. Whatcha want? I'll order while
you go use the bathroom."
     He cleared his throat. "I duddo."
     She giggled at the way he sounded. "I'll just get you something
then, ok? And some coffee?"
     He nodded. His head was spinning. He threw on a baseball cap and
tucked a few tissues into his pockets just in case. "Whatever you say,"
he snuffled, getting out of the car and slamming the door closed behind. 
     Ten minutes later, Mandy pulled out, nibbling on her food and
driving with one hand as they headed back towards the entrance ramp to
the highway. Meanwhile, Keith shivered and struggled to eat a bit of the
soup though he wasn't very hungry at all.
     "How are you feeling?" she asked, glancing over at him out of the
corner of her eye.
     He cleared his throat. "I don't know <sniff>"
     "Well, is there anything I can yet for you? I saw a drug store back
there. I can hop in and get you-"
     "Hetchoo! <sniff>"
     "Bless you."
     "Hah... Hetcheeoo!"
     "Bless y-"
     "Hahchoo! Sheoo! Hashoo!"
     Mandy pulled over and waited patiently, watching him suffer from
the fit and wishing she could help somehow.
     Keith finally stopped sneezing and looked over at Mandy with
pained, tired eyes. "I don't know... I just.. Eh... Hetchoo!"
     Mandy reached over and stroked his cheek, then leaned over and
kissed it. "I'll get some stuff for you, Darling. You just sit and rest and
I'll take care of everything."
     He smiled weakly at her. "Thanks Mandy."
     She kissed him again. "I'll be right back."

     Which she was, with two bags in her arms. "OK, I've got anything
you could want and more."
     Het-Choo! Harashhho!" he sneezed rather wetly, throwing him
forward as he aimed for the lose first which hovered in front of his face,
clutching a few tissues.
     She passed him a few more tissues which he took graciously to blow
his nose and then throw, balled up, towards the trash can; he missed
greatly, but it was nearly full and overflowing already. "Th-thanks,
Darling," he said softly, suddenly feeling responsibility again. "I'm so
sorry. You've got to all this <sniff> trouble for m-mehh-Hetchoo!
Ahshoo!"
     She shook her head as she merged back into the highway traffic.
"Bless you. And like I said before, I don't mind at all. I think you look
positively adorable like this."
     He gave her a quick half-smile. "Heh, maybe I, eh, should <sniff>
get sick more often."
     She smiled back. "Well, if you do, I'll be there to take good care of
you."
     Keith nodded. "I've no doubt." He was looking through one of the
bags and pulled out a box of cold medicine. He cringed at the thought of
taking medicine for it, but with the extreme amount of suffering he was
doing, he felt a doctor's visit might be in store and that was something
he hated a hundred times more. So, squinting at the box, he cleared his
throat, his face pale with the exception of flushed cheeks. "Um.. could
you read the <sniff> doses to me?"  She read them out to him with a yawn
in the middle, which he caught and asked her about. "Are you getting
tired, Darling?" He popped two pills and swallowed then with a few gulps
of the bottled, distilled water she'd bought.
     "A little," she answered. "I’m not used to driving straight on like
this." She smiled at him. "That's why I brought you along, remember?"
     Chuckling, "I suppose that was the <sniff> only <sniff> reason you
<sniff> brought me?"
     Nodding back, "Just about."
     They laughed until Keith began to cough and then Mandy made a
note of the time so she'd remember when it was safe for him to have more
medicine. "It's alright, really. I'm only a little tired. If I get worse, I'll
pull off for a little while- I don't risk things like that. But we're making
great time... though I'm a little hesitant about setting up camp for
tonight. I don't think I'll have energy enough to do it alone, you know?"
     "Well <sniff> what <cough, cough> what did you have in mind?"
     "A motel." She was quick to answer, knowing it was an unfavorable
one.
     "Darling... the <cough> money."
     "I can handle it. Besides, you need some running water, a warm bed
and some heat. It's starting to get a bit colder now, especially at night."
     He nodded in reluctant agreement. "I know you're not thrilled to
death with motels but it won't be that bad, I promise you. You can even
sleep in your sleeping bag on the bed."
     "If you <sniff> say <sniff, sniff> so." He blew his nose and sighed.
"I <sniff> just wish we'd be there <sniff> soon... I <sniff> could uh...
Hetchoo! Hachoo! <sniff> I could use it now."
     "I bet." She rubbed his thigh a few times and patted it twice after.
"Try to get a little more sleep, Darling."
     He shook his head and rubbed his nose with his palm. "Can't. I just
don't <cough, cough> <cough, cough, cough>" he sniffed and then burst
into a deep coughing fit.
     She merged right and looked over at him with pity. She told him to
take a sip of water, which he did, and blew his nose, which seemed to
quiet the coughs quite a bit. He closed his eyes in frustration as they
teared up.
     "Aw, Keith," she cooed. "I'm here for you, remember? You'll be ok."
     He nodded roughly, drying his eyes on his sleeve and sniffing. She
carefully reached over and pressed the back of her hand against his
forehead. "You're warmer. I think you're running a fever."
     He raised his eyebrows. "I don't feel very well Mandy," he whined,
close to crying.
     "Maybe I should take you to a doctor-"
     "No!" he exclaimed. "No, please. I hate them... please..."
     "Shhh..." she responded softly, soothingly, reassuringly. "Alright,
I won't. I won't. Just relax, you'll feel better as soon as the medicine
starts to kick in a little."
     He nodded. Then, he leaned over and cuddled against her, falling
asleep easily a few minutes later with his head on her shoulder.

                           *     *     *

     "What do you mean you have no rooms free?"
     The stuffy, snobbish motel manager behind the counter frowned
down at her. "Just as it sounds, Miss. We ain't got a thing. There's a car
convention a few miles over from here and all the rooms have been
filled."
     A woman poked her head out and shook it.
     Mandy tried again. "Look... " she hadn't wanted to resort to it, but
she didn't see any other options. "Every motel in this state is booked,
and I've been driving all day and am about to drop dead with fatigue.
And my boyfriend's sick- I mean, he really needs a place to sleep
tonight..." she trailed off, realizing that she was complaining pointlessly
to complete strangers.  Mandy looked out the window to the truck, seeing
Keith sneeze freely, shaking from the force, his nose wrinkling and his
head pulling back only to bend forward with a thrust a split second
after. She caught her reflection in the window and saw her tired eyes
and worried face. "Please? We'll take anything."
     The man shook his head, "I'm really sorry, Miss, but I can't help
you. There's a camp ground down the way that-"
     The woman stepped out and put her hand on the man's shoulder.
"Hon, she looks exhausted. Can't we just give her #1?"
     The man sighed deeply and threw up his hands. "I don't know why
I bother anymore!" He turned and made a smooth entrance into the back.
     The woman passed Mandy a few papers and took her credit card.
"I'm very sorry about Clyde. We're supposed to keep it open for
emergencies but... well, it sounded as though you might be able to put it
to good use."
     Mandy nodded and thanked her overly much. Then, taking the key,
she returned to the truck and to Keith who was in the middle of a strong
sneezing fit. She placed her hand comfortingly on his back and rubbed
gently until it passed somewhat. "Harrahhho! Kah-Tchoo! AhhhEsheoo!"
he rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. "Thanks, Mandy."
     She nodded. "Come, I'll help you in." He leaned on her, his weight
heavy against her. She led him in and left him sitting on the bed while
she went to retrieve his sleeping bag. Then she tucked him in securely
and kissed him on the cheek. He shivered as his head hit the pillow and
she la down beside him, letting him curl up against her.
     "Mandy..." he whispered, kissing her neck.
     "Yes, Keith?" she asked, letting him touch her.
     "I... want y-yahh..."
     She pulled back to see him struggling against the urge. Mandy
quickly got a few tissues and thrust them in his face as he sneezed
helplessly, fully, "HarAHEOO!" He sniffled softly, "Sorry."
     She took him in her arms and hugged him tightly. "Later, when
you're feeling a bit better." She kissed him powerfully and left to unload
the rest of their gear. She plugged in the kettle and propped up his
stuffy form to make it easier for him to breathe.
     Mandy returned to him with a cup of tea, only now taking time to
admire what she'd been so kindly given. It was a tiny motel room with a
rotting wooden dresser on one side, just barely supporting the TV that
had free HBO but only four other channels. The carpet had a disgusting
orange and magenta floral pattern that matched the curtains and the
one, king-sized bedspread exactly and offset the light beige wallpaper.
She distracted herself from its appearance by going back to poor Keith.
"It's been a little over six hours if you'd like to take more medicine,
Darling."  He nodded, closing his eyes and swallowing the pills. She
placed a cold compress on his forehead and then asked, "Can I take your
temp?"
     "Sure <sniff>" He wiped his nose with a tissue and cleared his
throat.
     She slipped the thermometer under his tongue and set the timer on
his watch, as she had no idea where she'd left her own.
     He sniffed again and she smiled to se a bit more color in his cheeks
though he still looked rather pale.
     He coughed a few more times and sneezed suddenly, wet and nasal,
through his nose as he struggled to keep his mouth closed. Rubbing his
nose, he felt another come, just as strong, if not more, and he was sure
he didn't feel up to hold it off as well. "Hehh..." he pursed his lips and
squished up his face, wiggling his nose in desperation, but his mouth
opened despite his actions.
     She pulled the thermometer from his mouth as his watch beeped.
     "Hahh-SHOO!" he sneeze, bending forward with release, sighing
afterwards.
     "Just a bit of a fever," she informed him. "99.8... any higher and I'd
make you go to the hospital to be checked out."
     Keith shuddered at the thought. "No doctors... please Mandy.
Please?"
     She nodded. "I know you don't like them. It's okay, I'll take care of
you all right."
     He sniffed. "I know you will, Mandy." He rubbed at his nose and
tried not to let her see that it hurt him to do so. "So.." he said, covering
for himself. "What happens now?"    
     Mandy was up and changing for bed, leaving her in silk underwear
and a light night shirt. She slid into bed beside him, under the covers.
"How are you feeling, Darling?"
     He rubbed at his nose. "Kinda sneezy, and a little... a little cold...
Hatchoo!"
     Instantly she kissed him on the cheek.
     He sniffed, looking down at her. "What <sniffle> was that <sniff>
for?" His nose as beginning to run, which made it tickle all the more.
     She grinned, putting her hand on his forehead. "I kissed you to
make it feel better."
     He grinned back. "How much better?"
     Mandy shook her head. "That's up to you." She made motions with
one hand as she pretended to lock her mouth and throw away the key.
     He chuckled, rubbing his nose some more.
     "Why are you rubbing your nose?" she asked, sure of the answer.
     "Because," he sniffed loudly, unable to resist the feeling. "Because
I feel like... eh... like I have to... Hah..."
     "Sneeze?" she finished for him.
     He nodded, raising his hands to a spot in front of his nose and
mouth. His eyes shut tight, his face dropped, and yet he still tried his
best to nod yes. "Ah-Arshoo!"
     She kissed his cheek again, a spot closer to his mouth.
     "Hishoo!" came the next before he had time to say anything.
     She moved to his ear, sucking while beautiful kiss and a light
whisper, "You're so sexy when you sneeze." She ran her hand over what
parts of his body she could reach.
     "Heh.." he said, half chuckling, half breathing in before the
building sneeze. "Hehh... "
     She kissed his neck ever so lightly as it built, and once quite
strongly as it finally came.
     "AhhTCHOOO!"
They pulled away, looking at each other, when she finished. Keith
sneezed again, and they knew they were caught helplessly by each
other. As he sneezed, each kiss became more and more passionate. And
before they knew it, they had become one.

                           *     *     *

     Mandy woke early the next morning only to see Keith emerge from
the bathroom with a few tissues clenched in his fist, which was hovering
in front of his nose. She sat up and motioned for him to come back to bed
with her. Nodding, he did so, sniffling and sitting down on one side of
the large king-sized bed. "Morning," he whispered in a rough but hoarse
voice.
     Of course, she was instantly concerned. "You sound positively
terrible, Darling."
     He nodded with a light cough. "Yeah, great, huh?"
     Mandy instructed him to open his mouth and stick out his tongue.
Holding his breath so as to keep from coughing in her face, Keith obeyed
orders. She patted his leg reassuringly and then ran her hand over his
throat, messaging gently. "Tell me if this hur--"
     "Ahh!" he winced, pulling away.
     She apologized profusely and kissed his cheek. "Your throat looks
inflamed and you have at least one sore lymph node, there."
     He sniffed. "So? I'm not going to the doctor."
     She didn't get a chance to respond as he began  coughing hard. He
got up and pulled a few tissues from the box by the bathroom. Flushed
from coughing, he managed to gather enough breath to blow his nose
quite powerfully  and loudly a few times, causing the coughs to back
down.  As they subsided, he sniffed and leaned against the counter,
clearing his throat. "Early- ahem," he shook his head, as if commenting
to himself. "Early this morning I woke up coughing <sniff> but I went
into the bathroom so I wouldn’t' wake you up. And after a while I
realized
my voice was <sniff> gone, and my throat was hurting <sniff> so much,
no matter how much water <sniff> I drank." He stopped to rub at his
nose, expecting to sneeze, as his expression dropped accordingly, but
never followed through.
     Mandy went to him, a hand on his back. "Why didn't you wake me?"
     He shook his head. "You <sniffle> looked so very tired, and you've
been so sweet to me. I didn't... did... Hetchoo! Excuse me... <sniff> I
didn't have the heart to wake you." He gave her a smile. "And anyway, I
tried <sniffle> and you wouldn't wake up. You... heh... " his red nose
twitched and an almost  pained expression appeared on his face, as he
felt ready to sneeze.
     Mandy pinched his nose shut.
     He winced slightly at her touch but gave a relieved sigh to find the
sensation leaving. "Thanks, Darling," he whispered with as much as he
could.
     "You poor thing. You sound like you must feel simply awful. You
want to come back to bed and lie down a little? I thought I might take--"
     "Hetcho! Hahh-Ehshoo! AhhhhhhCHEOO!" he sneezed suddenly,
strongly, groaning, sniffling, and rubbing furiously at his nose. "Oh
gosh... I think I'd better lie down... I suddenly... feel a little woozy..." he
put his hand on the counter to steady himself as he sneezed again,
"HehhShoo!" bending at the waist, and then putting his hand up to his
head. Make that more than a little."
     She helped him back to bed, and he seemed achy as he crawled
under the covers. He seemed a little unsure about where they were and
what was happening, and his started to shake a little from sudden chill. 
She took his temperature and found it to be considerably higher by
nearly three points. She told the news to him with a cup of ice cold water
and two aspirin tablets for him to swallow. He didn't seem to mind in the
least, given that he was feeling much worse than ever, too ill to even
care.
     Mandy glanced at the digital clock; it was almost 9am. She looked
back to see that Keith had either passed out or fallen asleep. He was
sweating noticeably and she knew that his coughs and sniffles would
wait
in comparison to a fever of 102.9.
Keith woke at a quarter past 11 to find a relieved Mandy sitting
by his side. She had been dabbing him with a washcloth she had been
continuously dipping into cool water. She'd begun with the forehead and
cheeks but he became even more fevered and began to moan and thrash
about, so she took off his shirt and pulled down the covers.
     When he woke, his fever had gone down but not broken completely.
She had made a decision by that point as well. I'm taking you to the
doctor's."
     This time he did not protest.
     "Get a shirt and some jeans on. I called the main desk and got
directions to a good emergency clinic not too far from here. Our check-
out time is noon but if we go to the clinic, we won't have much time on the
road and we'll end up staying here another night anyway, so she said
that she would hold this room for us until 5, and then we could pay for
another night. The woman at the desk also said it will be more busy
tonight than other nights have been, so its sweet of them to reserve the
room for us, don't you think?"
     Keith, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing at his
nose, stared blankly at her. He hadn't heard a word since 'Get a shirt
and a pair of jeans on.' "What?"
     Mandy shook her head, standing, taking him in her arms gently for
a warm hug. "Not important, Darling. Don't worry, I've got everything
under control." He put his head down on her shoulder and closed his
eyes. He sniffed and felt her hug him tighter and rub a hand up and
down
his back in soothing strokes. "There now. Shhh... you'll be just fine."
     She held him for as long as he wanted her to, then finished packing
up as Keith sat in the truck, waiting for her. Mandy joined him in no time
and 
drove over to the emergency care clinic she'd been told of.
     It was relatively tiny, but still full of waiting patients. Mandy 
approached the desk while Keith went to sit down. Timidly, she
addressed the secretary, "Excuse me, Miss-"
     The receptionist passed her a clipboard. "Take this and sign in
here. Patient's name and problem. High risk and earlier arrivals have
priority. Please fill out this form and return it in completion before you
are to be seen. Thank you." The woman recited it as if it were the
alphabet, never bothering to look up from what she was typing into the
computer.
     After thanking her and taking the clipboard, she asked what she'd
been trying to say all along, "Um, how much is a typical visit? And do
you accept traveler's checks?"
     The woman nodded, looking up at her, replying less coldly, "A
typical visit is anywhere from $60 to $200, depending on what tests we
may need to run. And, yes, you're in luck, we just started accepting
traveler’s checks this month."
     With a nod, "OK, thank you." She took the clipboard and pen and
turned around. She spotted Keith in the far corner, sitting alone,
sniffling into a handkerchief. She sat beside him and put her left arm
around him; he leaned into her accordingly, his head on her shoulder.
     The form was begun without much difficulty. Name, address, birth
date, hair color... but after w while, Mandy felt that she was inadequate
as a girlfriend.  She knew not many of the more personal questions.
"Keith, what's your Blue Cross/Blue Shield number?" Then, "Do you have
any allergies to medicines?" And, "What's your blood type?" Mandy
finally finished and turned in the form, glancing at the sign-up list to
see only 3 of the original 8 names were left. She returned to her seat,
putting her arm back around him and kissing his cheek. "Just a few more
minutes, Darling."
     "I hate this... " he mumbled. "You are... are <sniffle> coming in with
me <sniff, sniff> right?"
     She couldn't resist telling him, "You look so adorable, Keith." She 
giggled. "Of course I'll come in with you."
     He smiled weakly. "Thanks Mandy... ehh.." his face filled with
pained anticipation. He raised the handkerchief to his nose.
"Heh-Arushoshh!" His body shook violently as he had not the strength to
maintain his composure.
     "Keith Caster?"
     Keith groaned and whispered, "great timing," just before blowing
his nose and stood, trying his best to be indiscrete as he stood and
followed the nurse. He was led into a small examining room, fully
equipped with tacky pictures on two walls, and a wall-length cabinet
system on the other two walls. Mandy took a seat beside him on the
examining table, holding his hand for support, hearing 
his breaths speed and feeling his heart beat race every time the nurse
came close to him to examine his throat or look into his eyes or such.
     The nurse sat across from them and began asking questions as to
his ailment. "Stomach pains or vomiting?"
     "No."
     "Sneezing?"
     "Yes."
     "Runny nose?"
     "Yes."
     "Congestion?"
     "Yes."
     "Coughing?"
     "Yes, and loss of voice, if you couldn't tell already,"  he said with a 
sniff.
     "Aches?"
     "A little, yes."
     "Fever?"
     "Yes."
     At that one, she crossed the room to get a device which gently slid
into Keith's ear. It beeped and she took it out. "101.24"
     Mandy felt the need to speak up. "It was nearly 103 this morning
before I brought him in."
     The nurse made note of it. "I need to give you a strep test to rule
out that possibility, since your throat is rather inflamed. Have you had
one done before?"
     He nodded, shuddering at the thought.
She got out two sticks, unwrapping them and getting out a dish to put
the ends into. He stiffened up, but felt Mandy's hand squeezing his
tightly, and knew he had to be strong. He opened his mouth, saying
"Ahhhh" as the nurse stuck them down, scraping a little, then pulled
them back up as he gagged and coughed a few times. Mandy patted his
pack and kissed his cheek.
     The nurse finished, "Thank you, Keith. A doctor will be in to see
you shortly."
     Keith nodded, suddenly feeling quite tired. "OK," he whispered
with another nod. When the nurse had gone, having close the door
behind, he let out a yawn and sniffed. 'Mandy, I suddenly feel kinda
sleepy for some reason." She nodded, moving over to the end of the
table. "OK, lie down here and close your eyes to rest a little before the
doctor gets here."
     He followed her advice, resting his head in her lap as he stroked it 
lovingly.
     The doctor didn't come for another 25 minutes so Keith had a nice
nap in the meantime. Mandy woke him up as the doctor entered and
introduced himself. "Hello, I'm Doctor Ted Peters. Sorry to keep you
folks waiting so long. I see you're not feeling very well, Keith?"
     Keith shook his head drowsily, trying to wake up. "No, <sniff> I'm
not." He instantly liked this man, despite his profession, and forgot to be
cold to him.
     After giving Keith a thorough examination, the doctor sat down and
scribbled a little on a piece of paper. "Your strep test came back
negative, which is good. It looks as if you simply have a virus of some
sort. It'll work through your system in 4 to 10 days. But I'll prescribe a
little medication that should bring down your fever and help it along a
little."
     "Thanks, Doc," Keith croaked.
     The doctor nodded. "Oh, and pick up some- wait, we may have some
here." He 
got a spray from one of the cabinets. "Spray your throat every two
hours as needed and try not to talk unless you absolutely need to,
alright?"
     Keith nodded.
     Mandy shook the doctor’s hand and thanked him again.
     "No problem. Glad I could help. You take care of your husband
now."
     Mandy burst out laughing and Keith was quick to follow, holding
back his was some suppressed coughs. "We're not married," Mandy
explained, taking Keith's hand in hers, and squeezing it. "Only dating."
     The doctor nodded. “Ah, well, look me up in a few years on your
wedding anniversary. We'll have drinks."
     Keith and Mandy exchanged looks, and left. 

                           *     *     *

     "Thanks, Darling," he whispered as he walked back into their motel
room 
and took a few of the pills the doctor had given him.
     Mandy stood beside him, holding fresh sweats, underwear, socks, a
towel, and washcloth. "I want you to go in there and take a shower."
     He cleared his throat. "But, that's your sweat shi--"
     "Ah-Ah-Ah!" she kissed him on the lips. "No talking, you heard the
doctor. Come on, baby, it'll make you feel a lot better, I promise you."
     He nodded. "Can you <cough>" he stepped back, bending in half at
the strong coughs. His face flushed and he held his hand cupped
securely over his mouth. When he finally finished, he caught her staring
at him, looking worried and concerned. "I'm <sniff> ok, Darling."
     She nodded, not sure she believed him quite fully on that point.
     He sneezed and shivered and then looked at her again. "Can you
come in the <cough, cough> shower with me?"
     She hesitated, then agreed. "Alright. Sure. If you’d like me to."
     Eagerly, he nodded back, trying not to speak unless he had to, as
the doctor had said.
     They went into the bathroom, finding it small for the both of them,
but just big enough so that it was a comfortable closeness. Clothing came
off and Keith shivered, standing naked as Mandy turned the water on
and waited for it to warm up. Then she stepped in and bid for him to
follow, which he did with little hesitation at seeing her beautiful,
water-covered form.
     The spray of water was delightful as it rushed over their bodies
and even Keith had to admit that it made him feel much better.
     "Told you it would." Mandy giggled as she stroked his chest with
the soapy washcloth. She moved to his arms and he put his hands on her
waist, moving them down to her hips, and then thighs. She giggled again.
"What are you doing darling?" By the time she got down to her legs,
washing, she knew, because he was visibly ready for her, “Keith?” She
wasn’t sure if he really meant it, or whether it was simply the warm
water. 
     He nodded, pulling her against him. "Please, Mandy. Let me <sniff>
ravish you, my darling."
     She fell against him, throbbing for him, knowing that he only used
that phrase when he truly meant it. "Take me, please."
     He did. 

                           *     *     *

     Shivering terribly, he stepped from the shower, leaning on Mandy
for support. "hetchoo! he sneezed freely. Mandy wrapped a towel around
him and stood, naked, dripping, as she rubbed his arms to warm his up a
little. She wrapped the towel around his waist as she helped him dress.
His breathing grew hard and heavy, and she knew what the meant.
     "Hehh..." he began, trying to hold it back as much as possible as
she slipped on his boxers for him. "hehh... Hahhh..." so strong he
couldn’t’ deny it, until it suddenly backed off. "ahh-" he sighed,
relieved something had gone right for a change. She pulled his pants up
and leaned into him as she pulled the drawstring and went for a kiss.
     "heh- HahSHOO! Heshoo!" he sneezed a sudden double, spraying
her. Oh gosh <sniff> Sorry."
     She kissed his cheek and tied the drawstring so they wouldn't be
too tight. "It's alright, Darling."
     This time, he felt them coming and started to warn her. "I'm... going
to... snehhh... uhh... Hahshoo! Uh... huh... HARshoo! HetCHOO! Shoo!" he
paused, his face frozen in his look of helpless realization, his nose
tickling with the continued urge.
     "Bless you, Baby."
     He sniffed.
     "You getting tired?"
     He nodded as she dried his hair with the towel.
     She dressed and escorted him back to the room, helping him get
into bed.
     Once tucked in, he looked up at her wantingly.
     "Keith?"
     He coughed once and gave her a sad, puppy dog face- fully with
pout and furrowed eyebrows. Then he pointed to his cheek.
     She giggled and slid under the covers with him, wrapping her legs
and arms around him. Her lips touched his cheek and left with a whisper.
"I really with you were feeling better, Keith. But I must say, I wouldn't
mind spending the rest of my life with you even if you were like this."
     Keith rubbed his nose, pulled away, and got out of bed to go to his
duffel bag. He fumbled around a little, then stood up, his hand on her
forehead. Mandy, who was sitting up in bed, was at his side in a moment.
     "No, I'm.. ehh..." he stepped back, about to sneeze, his face falling.
He held up the handkerchief he'd pulled form the bag. "Eh..." holding it
just below his nose. "EHH-SHOO!"
     "Bless you, Keith."
     He sniffed and nodded his thank you to her politeness. Then he
opened his mouth to let out a squeak.
     Mandy laughed, almost doubling over at the sound, and he smirked,
coughing. He grabbed the motel’s complementary notepad and pen to
scribble something.
     Thrusting it at her when he was done, she read aloud. 'I wanted
this to be perfect, but I guess that’s not going to happen any time
soon.' She smiled up at him with a quizzical expression. "Darling, you
know I don't mind at all."
     He nodded, writing some more. 'I was going to do this at the end
ofvacation. I know you hate when exciting things like trips end, so I
thought I'd do this to brighten it up a little for you.'
     She looked just as puzzled.
     He smiled and cleared his throat. Then he puled something out of
his pocket and handed it to her as he squeaked out the whisper, "Mandy,
will you marry me?" He sniffed, and blinked, and looked down and inch
into her eyes, trying to read them.
     She took what he’d handed her and opened it to find a small ring
with a tiny ruby embedded in it. The ruby had always been their stone,
ever since their first date when the movie theatre’s reels had broken
and all the could show was The Wizard of Oz, which Keith and Mandy had
been willing to sit through. They joked about it all the time since.
     "Keith...?"
     He nodded and mouthed the words, "I love you."
     She couldn’t keep her overwhelming delight from him. "Yes,
Keith."
     He ginned, sharing her enthusiasm and wrapping his arms around
her. "I love you so much," he whispered, barely audible, quick enough to
get in before he sneezed again, "Harashhooo!"
     She giggled and let him recover, then kiss her passionately. "I love
you, too."

~tarotgal