Teen Corner

Perfect Health

by Frances Andreu

Darius Cawdor was afraid of germs. The idea that he might catch an incurable disease and die young horrified him. He made sure to take the best care of his body. He washed his hands before every meal, after shaking hands with someone and when he came home from work. Everyday he brushed his teeth twice and showered twice a day (except on Fridays, that was bath day).  He took his vitamins, ate three square meals, exercised daily and went to his annual physical and dental check up. However, there are some things in life that just cannot be prevented.

One day Darius woke up with a stuffy nose. Concerned, he called in sick and rested in bed all day. But the cold he had somehow caught got worse. The next morning Darius woke up with a stuffy nose and a hacking cough. That first time the cough ripped through him, dredging up mucus and leaving his throat sore and painful, he got so scarred he dialed 911. He hadn’t been clear on his symptoms, blubbering only “My name is Darius Cawdor, I live on 224 Maplewood Drive and I have a horrible illness and I’m going to die, I just know it! Please help me! I don’t want to die!” An ambulance was immediately dispatched to his house where he was examined.

“Oh, you don’t have a deadly illness,” said an annoyed paramedic. “You just have the common cold. Just stay in bed and don’t call again unless you really mean it!” And with that, they left him and went to collect an old woman who had been hit by a car three streets over.

“Oh,” Darius moaned. “I just know I’m going to die.”

Over the next few days Darius worked extra hard to get rid of his cold. He washed his hands before and after every meal, he took three showers a day and two baths on Friday. He did not go to work and spent his days in bed.

However, his cold persisted, as they are wont to do. And Darius moaned and groaned and withered in his bed convinced he was dying.

Until he suddenly had an idea.

And it was a wonderful idea. So he waited until night when he dressed up in his coat and scarf, boots and gloves and bundled out the door onto his porch and stared up at the sky. And he remained there, staring at the sky for most of the night, periodically sneezing and coughing. Then, at about 3 o’clock in the morning, he saw what he was waiting for: A shooting star.

As soon as the brilliant streak flashed across the midnight blue sky Darius shouted up “I wish I could have perfect health for as long as I live!” And then, satisfied with what he had done, he ambled back into his bed and went to sleep.

That morning, when he woke up he discovered something. He could breathe! He was no longer coughing or sneezing and his nose had cleared up. He was all better! His wish had come true! Now he could live a nice long life without ever worrying about getting some terrible disease. “I have perfect health” he said incredulously, “for as long as I live!” Giddy with joy, he kicked up his heels and danced out the door. “I have perfect health!” He shouted out, to the neighbors, to the world, to anybody. He danced onto the porch. “I have perfect health!” And across the lawn, “I have perfect health!” Down the driveway, “I have perfect health!” Across the street, “I have perfect—” but he never got to finish his sentence because at that moment he was hit by a car and died that very day, perfect health or not.