Memories of a Quarantine
In the middle of winter in the Upper Midwest, strange things can happen.
Epidemics can sweep through towns as fast as the temperature can
plummet below zero. Several years ago, in my hometown, a strep throat
epidemic became so terrible so quickly that the schools were shut down
for a week. Doctors ordered patients diagnosed with strep throat,
along with those they came in contact with, to be quarantined for 4 days.
My best friend Mindi called one morning with a very raspy voice. I asked if
everything was alright. She said she had a sore throat, but she was
fine. She asked if I was planning on coming over later as usual. I
told her I was. I went to a church function with my mom and took some
soup from the function with me to Mindi's house later in the day.
When I got to Mindi's house, our friend Mandy greeted me with bad news. Mindi had been to the doctor and ordered her to be quarantined.
The doctor said anyone she had come into contact with in the last few
days also had to be quarantined. Since Mandy and I went to Mindi's
house every day, we had obviously come into contact with her. Mindi
apologized profusely for causing us to not only be exposed to strep
throat but also for causing us to be quarantined as well. She asked us
if we wanted to go home right away. Mandy and I decided that since we
were already at Mindi's house, we may as well stay there.
The three of us stayed in quarantine at Mindi's house for the next
several days. Since the strep throat and resulting quarantine was so
prevalent at the time we had no problem explaining to our employers
that we weren't coming in for the next week or so. We had a friend of
ours drop off some food and cigarettes every two days. Mindi had a
walk-up apartment, so our friend would drop the stuff off on the front
porch and leave. We would leave money for him in the mail box.
Even though Mindi had strep throat, Mandy and I never contracted the
illness. The three of us had a great time in quarantine. We spent our
time watching old movies Mindi had. Mandy and I would clean Mindi's
house while Mindi was sleeping. And yes, we all still smoked the whole
time. Mindi claimed the menthol in her cigarettes made her throat feel
better. I don't know if there is actually any truth to the claim, but
she did get better with rest and antibiotics.
At the end of the quarantine we felt like new people. On the last
day of the quarantine we sat on Mindi's front porch together drinking
coffee and talking about how we had a new found appreciation for the
outdoors and the freedom we now had after quarantine.
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Comments
WOw! Interesting story.
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