"I'm Having An Allergic Reaction"

One early Monday morning, a young girl came running into the pharmacy with a friend. Her face was puffed out to about twice what it should have been, a large rash had started on her arms, and her eyes and nose were both running like faucets.

"I'm having an allergic reaction. I have trouble breathing. What should I do?"

I'm no miracle worker, and when it comes to something as vital as breathing, I don't mess around. I told the girl to go right to the hospital, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

"But I have an exam this morning! I can't go to the hospital!"

I then tried to calmly explain to her that any teacher in their right mind would take one look at her puffy face and would ship her out to the hospital and let her write the exam at a later date. If not, any teacher would accept a note from the doctor, because no teacher wants to be responsible for the student who stops breathing during an exam due to an allergic reaction.

"Can't I just take something to make it all go away?" I wanted to tell her that antihistamines aren't a magic wand, but pointed her to the Benadryl regardless. I explained to her that it might make her sleepy, and therefore going to the hospital would be her best best. This was met with more complaining, and she sat down to scratch the large rash that had broken out on her legs.

"Just write the exam tomorrow!" piped up her friend. My colleague and myself nodded our heads in agreement.

"I'm so stressed out! I just want to write the exam!" wailed the girl.

"But your nose is going to drip all over it anyway! You can write it tomorrow!" The friend then explained that she is actually the girl's instructor, and brought her to the pharmacy because it was quite evident that the girl's state was not one ideal for exam writing.

"I'll just take the Benadryl. I won't fall asleep and this will all go away," said the girl, as she continued to scratch at her legs and used her other hand to wipe her running nose.

The girl bought her Benadryl and left with her instructor. The girl informed my colleague that her exam was at the aesthetic school, and was actually a practical exam on epilation. She then blew her nose for the ten millionth time and left.

I don't know if she managed to do the exam or not, but I certainly pity the person who went in for a leg wax and got more than just wax smeared all over.