Live from the St. James Infirmary

[constance]

*SCREAMS*
*RUNS AROUND IN LITTLE CIRCLES*

About an hour ago, we got a message from our HR department telling us that someone in our company has tested positive for TB and is awaiting test results to discover whether whether the infection is active or not. So we have every last one of us spent the last hour by (1) speculating on who it could possibly be, (2) becoming as expert as possible in the space of one hour, and (3) PANICKING OMFG ARE WE GOING TO BE QUARANTINED I AM CRAMMED INTO A BARELY-AIR-CONDITIONED DISEASE INCUBATOR FOR EIGHT HOURS EVERY SATURDAY I HAVE A SON WITH ASTHMA MY KIDS JUST WENT BACK TO SCHOOL OMG OMG OMG.

From a practical standpoint, considering who everyone thinks it probably is, there's not much chance that my department will be infected. But still there is this small part of everyone in the building which is saying to them, right at this minute, NO REALLY I AM GOING TO DIE JUST LIKE CAMILLE COUGHING BLOOD DELICATELY INTO MY HANKIE HOLY SHIT I AM TOO YOUNG TO DIE.

So. How's your day going?

Comments

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

But remember Ruby Gillis in one of the Anne of Green Gables sequels? She was described as having such a lovely complexion- snowy pale with a "hectic flush" and glittering eyes. You'd be omgcoughcoughdying, but you'd be picturesque!

Also, how utterly weird that I'm on my way right now to get TB tested (because I'll be coming into contact with the nation's children and it's imperative that I prove that I'm not bristling with disease!). Best of luck that you get a clean bill of health. I'm standing by, though, in case you need anyone to wipe your brow with a hankie dipped in rosewater and read to you out of a book of poetry as you languish on a chaise longue amidst the summer's roses.

[tofty.livejournal.com]

I do remember? Camille, also, was fragile and tragic and flushed and very beautiful.

I am thinking that I am just fine, but be warned: if I turn out to have shared needles or slept with my coworker after all, I'm going to take you up on your rosewater-and-hankie offer. We tragic heroines need our foils, you know.

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

if I turn out to have shared needles or slept with my coworker after all

Isn't it vexing how incidents like that can slip the mind so easily! And then the coworker happens to waggle his/her eyebrows significantly at you in the hall and you can't figure out why!

[tofty.livejournal.com]

Indeed! I hate when that happens.

I forgot to tell you, by the way, that I will happily do the same for you, should you turn out to be consumptive.