Friday Flash - Man Flu

Franklin rolled over and groaned for the third time. He buried his face under his arm to blot out the light. He thought he'd read somewhere that photosensitivity was a sign of something incurable. Was that true, or did he just overhear it on the bus? It didn't matter. He was sure he was dying. Franklin risked a look at Eleanor but she kept her back to him, ignoring his plight. She always did this. She never believed he was ill. Franklin tried another groan.



"Oh would you pipe down over there? All this moaning and groaning - it's enough to drive me mad," snapped Eleanor.



Her hands worked across the wall, smoothing the thick paste in place. Franklin forget he was sick for an instant while he admired her decorating skills. A tickle in his throat forced him to cough and he remembered his illness.



"Don't you care I'm dying?" asked Franklin.



"I don't care what you do, as long as you're quiet about it. Can't you see I'm busy?" Eleanor turned around.



"What's so important that you can't tend to your sick husband?" asked Franklin. He coughed again to emphasise his point.



"You're not sick, you're just too lazy to help with the housework. This mucus doesn't rearrange itself, you know!" replied Eleanor. "Anyway, what's wrong with you?"



"I think I've caught a human. A nasty one," said Franklin.



"Oh not again! You always-" began Eleanor.



"I tell you, there's far too many of them at this time of year! Cousin Pneumonia caught one last week when she was minding her own business on the bus and Measles down the road got four on the trot," said Franklin.



Eleanor rolled her eyes at him.



"Franklin James Influenza, you never cease to amaze me. You should learn to pull yourself together - you've only got man flu!"



* * * This flash was inspired by a random Twitter conversation with Monica Marier, in which I asked what I should write about, and she suggested the cold and flu season - with a twist!