“Achoo...!” sneezed my pet cat, Sam. I looked up from the book I was reading and stared at Sam, whereupon he gave another loud sneeze, “Achoo!”

Sam has been sneezing quite frequently. I suppose the cold weather does not suit him. In addition, he has taken to hiding in corners and giving out a loud meow which clearly demonstrates that he is in pain.

Taking pity on my cat, I grabbed the bottle of medicine sitting on the table and held it out to my mum.

“Time to give medicines to the cat,” said mum. I got hold of Sam and together my mother and I managed to get a few drops of the liquid into his mouth. Sam hates taking medicine, almost as much as we children hate injections I suppose. But then again, it is good for him, so that is a good thing.

“Achoo...!” This time it was my sister from the kitchen. I ignored her.

“AACHOO!” an enormous sneeze came out of my mouth. I hastily scrambled for a tissue, while I could hear my mum saying, “Everybody is sneezing, all of them. I suppose I’ll have to ...”

I scurried away before mum could complete her sentence, but I knew what was coming next.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 16th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.