One Kind Word

           Mechanical whirring reverberated throughout the house, drowning out upbeat Christmas music playing from a boombox atop the refrigerator.

           “OH! What fun it is to ride!” the short, muscular brunette sang into her spatula. Sarah Philips pushed her mixer to its limit during the next verse of the song. Splashes of yellow batter adorned the walls of the bright kitchen. Thankfully, the floral granny apron she wore protected the bouncing skirts of her 1950’s inspired red, swing-style Christmas dress.

           “Whatchya think Scruffy Fluff?” She cooed at an aging party-colored Cocker Spaniel perched at her feet.

           “Think my coworkers will like my lemon squares for the cookie exchange tonight?” Hazel eyes begged for treats through thick, graying eyebrows.

           To christen the new house, Sarah invited her co-workers over for a Christmas cookie exchange.

           “Now for the secret ingredient.” She emptied the contents of a small, white bottle into the cream cheese icing.

           “That should do it. Now to just wait until everything is chilled.” Arms akimbo, she surveyed the kitchen.

           “But first the dishes.” She sighed.

           As she worked, Sarah watched the sun set through the large bay windows, even though it was only 6 PM. Soon guests would arrive, and Sarah hurried to finish cleaning the house.

           Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

           “Whew, just in time.” The swing dress billowed as Sarah spun around to answer the door, making her feel like a fairy princess.

           “Good evening, Sir. Thank you for coming.” Sarah cheerily greeted an older man in his sixties.

           “Hey Sarah. Thanks for inviting me. It’s good to see you finally focus on your work and get into a house. And please feel free to call me John. We’re not in the office.” His bushy salt-and-pepper beard framed a smile, and his height made for an imposing figure in the doorway.

           “Yes, Sir. Uh. John.” He handed her an apple pie his wife had made. Sarah found it difficult to be so casual with her boss, even during her off time.

           “Oh, here comes Emily.” Sarah opened the door wider to admit her boss as a heavy-set, red haired woman came bounding up the front steps behind him. Her curly bob bounced with the motion, and her breath created clouds in the winter air.

           “Lemme in. It’s freezing out here.”

           “Emily, where is your coat? I doubt that a flannel shirt and jeans are enough for this weather.” Sarah said, letting Emily Sacher inside.

           “It’s not that far of a walk, so I thought I could do without. Besides, you’ll let me borrow a coat for the way back, right?” Emily asked.

           “Uh, sure.” Sarah replied. “Oh, and Emily. Did you bring anything?”

           “Nah. I figured everyone else would bring enough.” The red-head replied through a mouthful of lemon bar.

           “I was really hoping to wait until everyone else arrived.” Sarah whimpered.

           “Hey, no worries. I know how to help myself.” The office secretary said taking another bite of lemon bar.

           Sarah sighed.

           The doorbell rang again.

           “Please, help yourselves to refreshments. I have drinks set out in the kitchen.” Sarah announced before turning to answer the door.

           Three more guests arrived. An older woman named Dr. Moira Simmons, a skinny man in his thirties named Dr. Jack Lorentz, and a young intern named Claire Hingle.

           “I see your taste in style hasn’t changed.” Jack remarked. He removed his coat, and folded it in his arms.

           “There’s a coat rack right there if you would like to hang it up, Dr. Lorentz.” Sarah said.

           “No, thank you.” The parasitologist retorted. “It’s an Ermenegildo cashmere coat. I’m afraid the coat rack just would damage it.”

           “Oh, well I have some wooden hangers if you would like me to hang it in the hallway closet instead.” Sarah replied.

           “That would do.” Jack remarked, handing Sarah his coat. He walked into the living room and placed his box of macaroons on the table before straightening his bowtie.

           “Oh, Deary! Could you take my coat too while you’re at it?” Moira asked removing her coat to reveal a black dress embellished with pearls. Her short gray, professionally quaffed hair framed a pair of large emerald earrings. She threw her peacoat into Sarah’s arms.

           “Of course, Dr. Simmons.” Sarah said accepting the coat and heading toward the hallway closet.

           “Moira! Darling!” Jack interjected, planting a kiss on each of Moira’s cheeks.

           “Oh, Jack. Always playing a ham for the Department Head, I see.” Moira smiled, relishing the attention from the younger man.

           “Hi, Sarah. Is there anything I can help with?” Squeaked a tall, slender blonde in her early twenties.

           “Sure Claire. Could you put your brownies and Dr. Simmons’ cookies on the table in the living room? That would be a huge help.”

           “Ok.” The young intern smiled, collecting the baked goods and going to the living room.

           “So, Sarah, how did the disease response efforts go in Bangladesh? You got back a week ago, right?” John asked, sipping a glass of high-end whiskey that Sarah had hidden away for special occasions in the back of the bar cupboard.

           “Ah, yes, I got back the day before yesterday. Things went well I think and are mostly under control.” Sarah replied.

           “Glad to hear everything is under control and all cleaned up.” Jack interrupted.

           “And thank you, Sarah, for volunteering to be part of the response efforts, even in the middle of moving to a new house.” Moira commented.

           Sarah winced and looked down. Her boss gave her a hefty pat between her shoulder blades, making her stand up straight.

           “Yep, we always need those boots on the ground.” John exclaimed proudly and smiled. “Isn’t that right, Sarah?”

           “Yeah.” Sarah whispered with her best smile. John volunteered her for every deployment, since Sarah had no spouse or children. The most recent deployment to Bangladesh fell on Thanksgiving, again. For the past three years, Sarah had been deployed for every holiday, and spent an average of six months a year on disease response efforts around the world as a field epidemiologist. She felt tired all the time and missed her family.

           “That is certainly true.” Moira quipped over her glass of wine.

           “Hey John, why did you bring an apple pie to a cookie exchange?” Jack asked standing over the table of desserts.

           “Oh, I didn’t realize it was a cookie exchange. I thought it was just a Christmas party.” John replied. Dr. Lorentz snickered. The invitation had clearly stated the event was a cookie exchange party.

           “I hope you don’t mind, Sarah. I brought some plates and silverware from the kitchen for the pie.” Claire interrupted.

           “Thank you, Claire. That’s perfect.” Sarah replied, thankful for the interruption. She watched the intern hand everyone a plate with a brownie and a piece of apple pie.

           “Well, we can start divvying up the sweets for everyone to take home.” Sarah suggested. Claire and Sarah headed to the kitchen to divide up the sweets.

           “Claire,” Sara said. “Did you want to take any of your brownies home? There’s extra left.”

           “No! Uh. No, thank you.” Claire replied hastily. “I think I have more than enough sweets at the moment. Thank you. And besides, I can always make more.”

           “Thank you so much for suggesting I have this party.” Sarah continued. “It’s been really hard for me to connect with people here. Do you think inviting my boss will work? Do you think he’ll let me take Christmas off this year? And thank you so much for suggesting other people to invite from work. I’ve worked there for years, but I don’t know anyone outside the division.”

           “Of course, you have to butter up to the boss once in a while.” Claire smiled. “And inviting other people from work, especially his boss, Moira, will help your cause. Other coworkers will make it less obvious that you’re trying to suck up to the boss to get something and makes it more likely that he’ll actually attend and listen to what you want.”

           Sarah admired Claire. Her youthful enthusiasm and exuberant personality made her magnetic to the introverted scientists with whom she worked. Claire was extroverted, fashionable, and energetic, but perhaps a bit young and naïve. She tended to be overly friendly with everyone.

           “How are things in the research labs with Dr. Lorentz?” Sarah asked. Claire’s internship consisted of shadowing people in various departments throughout the organization.

           “Oh. Things are going ok.” Claire mumbled.

           “What’s that?” Sarah asked.

           “Oh. Uh. Things are going ok. I may be transferring to the epidemiology department soon though as the next step of my internship.”

           “That would be great!” Sarah’s enthusiastic response surprised the intern making her take a step back. A polite smile graced Claire’s face.

           “Well, I’m off!” Emily popped her head into the kitchen. She donned Sarah’s spare hat and coat. “Arrive late and leave early as I always say.”

           “Here you go Emily.” Claire held out a container of cookies and brownies. “Brownie for the road?”

           “Don’t mind if I do.” Emily replied, grabbing a brownie from the tray that Claire held out. She smudged some chocolate icing on her nose as she crammed the dessert into her mouth.

           “Have a safe trip home Emily.” Sarah smiled and waved.

           The evening continued a little longer. Friendly chatting and a brief game of charades ensued before everyone headed home with their containers of treats.

           On Monday, John granted Sarah permission to take a few weeks of leave to go see her family over Christmas, and Sarah was overjoyed.

           On Friday during her morning coffee break, Sarah noticed a jar in the break room bearing a smiling picture of Emily and a slip of paper taped on that read “Hospital Collection Fund for Emily Sacher.” A company-wide email was released that morning notifying everyone that the Department Head, Dr. Moira Simmons, would be on extended medical leave.

           “Good morning Claire.” Sarah greeted the intern in the hallway.

           “Good morning Sarah.” Claire smiled. “How have you been?”

           “Oh, ok. Really tired today though. I think the travel is catching up with me, but thanks to you I get Christmas off.”

           “Congratulations.” Claire replied flatly. A bright smile lit her face. “That’s wonderful.”

           “Hey, did you see that email?” Sarah continued. “Looks like Emily is in the hospital, and Dr. Simmons is really sick too. Some sort of a really nasty stomach flu from what I’ve heard. Hope you and I didn’t get exposed at the party.”

           “Oh, I doubt it.” Claire replied with a laugh. “Well, see you later.” She waved to Sarah and headed off down the hall.

           In the afternoon, John left a note on Sarah’s desk asking for a brief meeting. Sarah’s boss often asked for such meetings when he wanted her to cover for him in his absence.

           “Excuse me, Sir. You called for me?” Sarah knocked briefly before walking into her boss’ office.

           “Uh, yes. Come in Sarah.” John’s voice sounded tired and strained. She noticed that he looked unusually pale, and his left hand seemed to be having tremors.

           “Sir, are you feeling OK?” John would not or could not look directly at Sarah. He seemed distant. Distracted.

           “Umm. Yes. I’m OK.” He huffed in a panicky tone. “Umm. Wait. No. I’m blind in one eye.” The words stumbled from his mouth as he held his head in his hands. Sweat beaded on his brow.

           “What?!” Momentary panic sent Sarah’s heart and mind into overdrive.

           “My. My eye. Can’t see. Charlotte. I don’t know.” Sarah pulled out her cell phone and dialed 911. Charlotte was his wife’s name. Sarah realized her boss was confused and disoriented. Something was definitely wrong. At that moment, John doubled over and vomited on his desk before collapsing unconscious on the floor.

           After a painstaking eternity, the ambulance arrived and took John to the hospital. He was alive, but critically ill.

           Thankfully, Sarah only had a few hours left in her workday. She went home late that afternoon feeling tired and nauseous. Thoughts ran through her mind. Everyone at the party a week ago had become critically ill. Emily, John, and Moira were all in the hospital in comas or feverish with delirium. The hospital doctors could not figure out what was causing the symptoms. Had she brought home some new disease from Bangladesh and spread it to everyone? But she had been working on an outbreak of STDs and wasn’t exposed to anything similar to the symptoms she was seeing in her coworkers now. Was she going to get sick? Was she getting sick? Claire seemed to be doing well this morning and wasn’t sick. What disease agent could cause the symptoms? Blindness, neurologic deficits, nausea, confusion, fever, muscle twitching, coma. Could be any number of diseases, but nothing she encountered in Bangladesh. Airborne would have spread to other people in the office, but no one else was affected. Foodborne. It had to be from something everyone ate at the party last weekend. But what? It had to be a foodborne disease, but not E. coli or Salmonella. The doctors at the hospital would have recognized those diseases, and the presentation of symptoms just didn’t fit.

As the evening wore on, Sarah noticed that she felt increasingly fatigued and dizzy. Then a thought struck her. Years ago, as a veterinarian, Sarah had been helping a wildlife rehabber with some racoons she was fostering. The wildlife rehabber became ill with neurologic symptoms and blindness after being infected with a type of roundworm found in raccoons. No one at the party had been around racoons that Sarah knew of. But racoon intestinal parasites? How? Parasites? Parasitology. There were two parasitologists at the party. Sarah began feeling worse. She had to go to the hospital.

           Ding-dong.

           Sarah jumped up with a start, but her dizziness caused her to fall off the couch onto the floor. Who would be at the door at 11 PM? She staggered over and opened the door.

           “Claire? What are you doing here?” Sarah’s feverish mind slurred her words.

           “I was worried you might be sick, so I came to check up on you.” Claire greeted Sarah. “My boss, Dr. Lorentz, also came down sick, and I just found out in an email that he died tonight.”

           “Oh no, Claire! Come in. Come in. I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well.” Sarah staggered and Claire caught her arm. The intern led Sarah to the couch to let her sit down.

           “Can I get you any water?” Claire asked.

           “No. I’m ok, Claire, but do you know if Dr. Lorentz was doing any work in his lab on Baylisascaris roundworms? I think we all got exposed somehow?” Sarah mumbled.

           “Oh? No. Not that I know of.” Claire replied. Sarah thought that the look on Claire’s face seemed odd. She looked expectant or annoyed.

           “I need to go to my car.” Claire suddenly proclaimed. “You need an ambulance, but I forgot my phone in the car. I’ll be right back.” Claire headed outside, leaving Sarah on the couch.

           Fever clouded Sarah’s mind, but a thought caused her heart to jolt in her chest. She struggled to gather her thoughts. Sarah stood up and staggered toward the door, but Claire reappeared in the doorway.

           “What did you do?!” Sarah demanded, shock and horror overtaking her.

           “I’m sorry?” Claire’s voice echoed throughout the house.

           “You. You did something to the food.” Sarah stammered. Claire’s shoulders stiffened.

“I’m sorry, Sarah.” Claire spoke with an icy tone. “You were nice enough, but you were never really kind to me. You only needed to say just one kind word or encouragement. I gave to you and helped you, but mostly you ignored me, especially when I needed help the most. As a result, you became collateral damage that’s lasted longer than I planned.”

           “W-What?!” Sarah stammered on shaky legs. The room swirled and swayed.

           “I asked you once how you dealt with all the men you worked with. I asked if you’ve ever had to deal with sexual harassment and how you did it. Your reply was that you just got used to it. That it would happen anywhere anyway, and there was no reason to focus on it. Just let it go you said.”

           Sarah’s brows furrowed. She did not remember the conversation or her comments, and she did not understand how such a conversation would have caused Claire to intentionally infect her coworkers with a fatal dose of racoon roundworms.

           “I needed someone.” Claire continued. Her voice cracking. “I needed someone to talk to after what he did to me.”

           “He?” Sarah doubled over in pain. Claire came closer. Her shoes clacked on the wood floor.

           “Lorentz. Jack Lorentz.” Claire emphasized the ‘z’ at the end. Her voice seethed with venom. “What he did to me. Who cares if he’s a world renowned parasitologist? Of course, it should be an honor for me to work with him. I should be able to put up with his ‘tendencies’. It’s the chance of a lifetime to learn from him.” Claire now stood within arms’ reach of Sarah. Sarah kneeled on the floor in pain. Every muscle in her body twitched and ached. She could see the hand axe Claire hid behind her leg.

           “It was so easy to do it working in a parasitology lab. Catch a racoon in a livetrap. Harvest parasite eggs from its shit. Filter them out to create a super concentrated solution that could be added to the icing on some brownies brought to a holiday cookie exchange. Make sure he and everyone else ate the brownies before leaving the party. How much they ate wouldn’t matter. I made sure there would be enough eggs in each bite to be lethal. Everyone had to eat some to divert suspicion you know.” Claire stood over Sarah now.

           “I am truly sorry, Sarah.” Claire said raising the axe above her head. “Nothing personal.” The axe whooshed down creating a loud thwack.