No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Something woke me up, but I couldn’t remember what. I lay there with my eyes closed tight, trying to remember. Had it been a dream? It had sounded like a loud snort. Someone must have been snoring. I tried to open my eyes but couldn’t. They seemed to be matted shut.1

While trying to figure out who had been snoring I remembered, I was the only one in the house. I was trying to breath but I had to breathe through my mouth. My nose was completely clogged. I raised a weak arm to my forehead and it felt cold and clammy, but I was burning up. I had kicked all the covers off in my sleep. Lying there, I tried to figure out what happened. I was fine when I went to bed last night. 2

I was too weak to move, but nature was calling and I had to wash my eyes out. I slowly slipped off the side of the bed and felt my way to the bathroom and the commode. I then groped my way to the sink, feeling for a wash cloth and turned on the warm water. I managed to get my eyes open, but they were still swollen half way shut. Turning my eyes away from the horrid image in the mirror, I swallowed a couple of aspirin and drank two glasses of water, trying to quench my parched throat.3

Almost too weak to stand, I staggered back to the bedroom and collapsed across the bed. How had I caught the flu? I’d made three trips trying to get the shot, but they were always out. Now it was too late. This was the worst thing that could happen to me. Allison and I were competing for a big promotion and I was sure I had the upper hand. It was Tuesday and the deadline for my article I was working on was Friday. Three days and I was too sick to even remember what I was writing about or how much I had to finish. 4

Allison will be happy, I was thinking as I drifted off to sleep. Nothing I could do about it now. I vaguely heard the phone ring several times as I drifted between deep sleep and unconsciousness. I thought I heard someone banging on the door, but couldn’t force myself awake enough to get up. 5

******6

Allison banged on the door, rang the bell several times and waited for an answer. After five minutes, she walked away with a smile on her face. It worked. She’ll be fine in a few days, and I’ll have the promotion. I got my shot early and a baggy full of used Kleenex from my very ill cleaning lady, emptied into her purse did the job. By the time she returns to work, I’ll be assistant Publisher and no one will be the wiser.7

Allison was aware that she definitely needed an edge. She couldn’t compete fairly and win, but she wanted this promotion desperately. Now it will be mine, she thought with a big smile on her face. 8

As Allison walked back into work, the boss buzzed and asked if she had found Cathy.9

“No, Mr. Martin. There doesn’t seem to be anyone home.”10

“That’s not like Cathy. The deadline is in two days. Are you sure she wasn’t there?”11

“Positive. I knocked and rang for five minutes and no answer. The garage was locked so I couldn’t tell whether her car was there. I have no idea where she got off to.12

Allison went to the office she shared with Cathy and, making sure no one was looking, she drew up her article on the computer. So, she’s writing about the scarcity of the new flu vaccine. How ironic, she thought as she transferred it to a DVD and erased it from Cathy’s computer. It’ll be her word against mine and her not showing up for work or calling in won’t look good for her. It looks like she has this finished. All I have to do is download it to my computer, change the name on it and print it out. I’ll be ahead of the deadline. She pushed print and left to eat lunch and celebrate.13

Mr. Martin rang Cathy’s house three times with no answer and was getting worried. Cathy had never even been late for work in the five years she’d worked for him. Something had to be wrong. He would use his lunch time to go check for himself.14

Mr. Martin drove to Cathy’s house and knocked on the door. He dialed her number on his cell phone and let it ring and ring. He kept getting her voice mail. He walked around her house, knocking on doors and peering in windows. The blinds were drawn and there were no lights. Coming to the garage, he stood on a five gallon bucket against the side and peered in small window that was up high. Her car was there. Something was wrong. Just as he pulled out his phone to call for help, Cathy’s neighbor walked up.15

“Hi. I’m Mrs. Chance. Are you looking for Cathy? I haven’t seen her for two days and am starting to get worried.”16

That convinced the boss to just dial 911. Something was wrong. As he and Mrs. Chance waited for the police, he was really starting to worry. When the police and ambulance arrived, they broke in the back door and started searching the house. When they got to her room, she was lying in bed, unconscious and burning with fever. She was taken straight to the hospital where she was diagnosed with Swine flu. Being young and healthy, they assured Mr. Martin she would be fine and out of the hospital within two or three days.17

********18

Cathy woke up, wondering where she was. Looking around, she realized she was in a hospital room. She buzzed for a nurse and Janet walked in.19

“How are you today, Miss Peters? You’ve been out for at least two days, but you’re well on your way to recovery now.”20

“What day is this and what’s wrong with me?” She asked.21

“It’s Friday afternoon and you had a bad case of H1N1.”22

“Oh, no,” Cathy groaned. “I have to get out of here. Today’s my deadline. I have an important article to finish and turn in. Where are my clothes?”23

“You’re not going anywhere for at least a couple of more days. You’ve been really sick but you’re on the way to recovery now. Just don’t worry about anything,” she quipped as she turned and left the room.24

Yeah, that’s easy for you to say. You didn’t just lose the promotion you’ve worked for the last three years. Just as the tears started to flow, Mr. Martin walked in her door with a big bouquet of flowers and balloons with a banner across the front saying “Congratulation.”25

Cathy was stunned. “What is this? I missed the deadline.”26

Mr. Martin was smiling from ear to ear. “You remember that article you turned in last week that I thought was so good, but I wanted to wait another week or so to run it?”27

“You mean the one I did on Swine flu?28

“That’s the one. The day you were taken to the hospital, Miss Allison turned in your article with her name all over it. She probably never changed more than a few words. She was really upset when I gave her, her walking papers and told her to clear out her desk. You were going to need the whole office to yourself, now that you’re the new Assistant Publisher. I didn’t even explain why. I’ll let her try to figure that one out for herself, if she’s smart enough,” he laughed.29

“You’re serious? I got the promotion? What about my article?”30

“I decided to go ahead and run with the article on Swine Flu. It really was good and you have till next weekend to finish the other, so hurry and get well. We need you at the office.”31

Cathy lay back with a big grin on her face. So the bitch finally cut her own throat, She got just what she deserved, she thought as she admired her flowers and opened the get well card, signed by everyone in the office, but noticeably missing Allison’s name.32