My Home From Home (ManxMan)

Chapter 28

"IT'S CHLAMYDIA ISN'T IT!?" Henry's eyes widened as the young woman sitting across the desk from him screamed at the very horrified looking young man next to her. He tried to maintain a calm and collected exterior as he watched the scene unfold before him, but in that moment he literally would've given anything to be anywhere but there. "WHERE IN GOD'S NAME DID YOU GET CHLAMYDIA, KEVIN?!" She hit him repeatedly on the shoulder with her handbag, her eyes filled with rage.

"Karen, I didn't, I swear! I wouldn't ever do that to you! It can't be!" Muttered a very flushed looking Kevin Timmins to his wife, Karen, as he raised his hands defensively to block his wife's blows; Kevin worked for the Hudson's Bay Company selling furs throughout the area and often travelled for work; he'd come into the infirmary complaining of pain whilst urinating, frequently having to do so, and an odour of sorts; but without any signs of discharge that one might associate with a venereal disease.

"Mr and Mrs Timmings, terribly sorry but if I may just interrupt for a second. I think it'll be of some comfort to you, Mrs Timmins" " Henry cleared his throat, locking eyes with Mrs Timmins, before turning towards Mr Timmins. "And Lord only knows to you, Mr Timmins... That you do not have chlamydia, or any venereal disease for that matter. You've got a urinary tract infection."

"But... He's a man?" Karen's priorly fiery hazel eyes seemed to wash over with genuine confusion.

"Yes, it is certainly less common in men than it is in women, but it does happens nonetheless." Explained Henry clearly, the corners of his lips perking up into a slight smile as he glanced up to see a look of relief wash over the wretched Mr Timmins' face. "I can prescribe paracetamol for the pain, and cranberry juice to help with the infection; other than that I would suggest drinking plenty of water." Twas a difficult time treating bacterial infections prior to the advent of Penicillin, yet they somehow made do.

They both thanked Henry for his help, Kevin looking more relieved whilst Karen seemed a bit embarrassed by her outburst though Henry couldn't blame her; with the dysuria being common between both urinary tract infections as well as venereal diseases, it wasn't as though she was off in her own laymen's diagnosis of it. 

He watched the young couple leave, muttering to one another as they seemed to bicker; he couldn't make out what they were saying yet he could only imagine it was somewhere along the lines of Kevin saying 'I told you so', and Karen not being terribly pleased that he did so. As they turned the corner out of the examination room, Henry finally relaxed his spine, slouching onto his desk and holding his head in his hand as he let a chuckle escape him for the first time since the whole ordeal began.

As the bell's above the front entrance jingled to indicate they'd stepped out of the clinic, it didn't take long before he heard an all too familiar sound of frantic heels heels clicking against the hardwood floor. He glanced up knowing all too well what he'd see; Mary peeking into the office, her auburn ringlets cascading down the shoulders of her aubergine coloured dress.

"I take it you heard, then?" Henry shot her a knowing look, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back in his chair as he watched the young secretary cover her mouth; both giggling like gossiping school children as Mary stepped into Henry's office and sat down in the chair across from him.

"Honestly, with her screaming it like a banshee, I'm surprised the whole town didn't here." Recounted Mary, craning her neck for good measure to ensure nobody was around before turning back to Henry; their giggling turned into outright snickering.

"We really shouldn't laugh, it's terribly unkind. Not to mention the poor chap looked scared out of his wits, heaven bless him." Henry huffed as he tried and failed to regain semblance; dabbing the laughter induced tearing. "Anyway, have we got any appointments on the docket for before lunch?"