The Company

The "Magic" Mouthwash

Day 8 2218

Like I stated earlier, eating or issuing too much fudge have its consequences. I think I ate too much because I awoke the next day with a sore throat. I thought it was a simple one.  However in a hour after getting dress, I felt the back of my throat swelling. I usually get a uvula swelling after eating something with green chilies or really spicy. It feels like having a luggy stuck in the back of your throat that you can't hack up or swallow. It's just stuck there taunting you. It's irritating but goes away after a few days or after a few antihistamines are taken. But this  was different. My ear was aching, throat  really red and  a large bulge in my throat. When I cough, it hurt, when I swallowed it hurt.
I haven't hurt this bad in a long time.  The  bulge in my throat grew and  became visible when saying Ahhh! In the mirror. “Too much fudge" I thought to myself and I didn't have time for this. I hate being sick and I hated myself for getting sick. I felt I received it from snoring or an over indulgence of the goodies. But either way this wasn’t going to work.

First thing I did was to look it up. This was very reaffirming. I had some form of tonsillitis but what form I wasn't sure. My baby girl kept Streptococcal and I prayed it wasn't that. I would need an antibiotic and that would cost money, make me really feel sick and delay my departure as I can be contagious and around other students. So to ensure this was not the case I went to the local doctor. Used my wife's health insurance, and saw the doctor. 2pm appointment that I was late too due to the getting lost on campus.

Hot, sweaty, and tired I went to the basement where the clinic was. Why they put it in the basement? I don't know. But I guess it was to ensure any wrongful deaths were easily disposed of. No body, nothing happened, right?. But at this point, I didn't care where it was. I was sick, felt like I was literally swallowing myself and hungry as all, due to the lack of eating solid foods. Upon arrival I smiled waited  patiently and drunk the cool refreshing water they provided me due to my parched appearance. The doctor was quick, he introduced himself, (2 seconds), asked how I was doing, and what was the problem (30 seconds, including my answer), then informed me he was going to take a sample for testing as I have tonsillitis, and he wanted to test for streptococcus (15 seconds). I agreed, he took the sample, after checking my vitals And other doctor stuff (5 minutes). He promised to return with result while I waited on the take, looking. You know the room doesn't seem that cold or empty until you sit waiting on medical test results. It like waiting for a present, you kinda know what its and what you want, but not quite sure you will like it. The doctor returned with results, not streptococcus, just a virus. Goggle with water and salt, plus the Magic Mouthwash. Take the medication prescribed and you will be good in a few days. If it get worse return. I thanked him, hopped down and exited the basement medical center.

I got the medications and was wondering how the Magic Mouthwash worked. It had the word Magic in it so I felt it would work a miracle. I know it didn't say Miracle Mouthwash, but if you know magic. Magic can fix anything also. I took the magic bottle from the peddler and rushed home to use it. I felt it was doing something wrong, because we aren't allowed to use any mind altering drugs. And I was sure the Magic Mouthwash had to affect my mind. Make me feel good and relaxed, throat would stop hurting and I can eat again.  I eagerly read the instructions “use a tablespoon and gargle with it. Don't swallow it, but if you swallowed some it wouldn't kill you. Also to do this as needed.

I carefully opened the top, after shaking it of course, and using the syringe provided squirted in my mouth. I garbled. Long and loud, spit the milky white mouthwash in the sink. And waited. Hmm, I thought, only thing happened is my mouth is now numb, including the surface of my tongue, and my throat is still aching like a stubbed toe. This is magic, it's a numbing agent. Something you give to teething infant to stop their fussing and ease their pain. I then got angry. This was supposed to fi. The problem, make me feel good and all it did was allowed me to. items my tongue and the inside of my cheeks

Being highly disappointed, I returned to my cup of warm water and salt mixture, along with sucking on cough drops. Oh, well. Time passed (10 days) since I felt the first lump in my throat and do not plan to see another one. I laid off the fudging for a while, just in case and helped other face the truth as well.