Time To Cough It Up And See A Doctor  

(For the past four years or so, every time I get sick I end up with a lasting cough. When it started, it was for about a week after I got over the cold, but most recently it lasted almost two whole months before going away. This September, I get a cold again, and I’m already ticked because now I’m going to have a cough all winter. One of my coworkers tells me to call my doctor. I keep putting it off, but she keeps hounding me to do it. Finally, on my day off, I call and make an appointment for the next Tuesday. The Friday before is the next time I see this particular coworker.)

Me: “Hey, [Coworker], I finally made that doctor’s appointment.”

Coworker: “What?”

Me: *a little louder* “I finally made a doctor’s appointment for my cough.”

Coworker: “Good, you really should get in to see someone about that.”

Owner: *from the office* “Yes, you should go see a doctor about that. You are exposing everyone here.”

Me: *even though I know I’m long over the cold and most likely not contagious anymore* “Yes, I know; that’s why…”

Owner: *interrupting* “And it looks really bad at the front desk. When a guest walks in and you start coughing, they think they will get it.”

Me: “I know, that’s why…”

Owner: *interrupting again* “People won’t want to stay here because they think they’ll get sick. You are driving away business.”

Coworker: “Mr. [Owner]! Let him finish! He literally just said he made a doctor’s appointment for his cough. If you’d stop interrupting him, you would know that.”

Owner: “Oh, well, good, because you should really see a doctor about that cough.”

Me: *internally face palming* “Yep, that’s why I have an appointment on Tuesday, Mr. [Owner].”