Oh, how I love hurt/comfort stories! While the thought of being that sick is unappealing, the image you painted of Clark taking care of Lois was tender and sweet. <long satisfied sigh> That part made me laugh out loud. Clark Kent - master of the understatement.

Thanks for a WAFFy Christmas gift on a blazingly hot August day, Nan. It was very much appreciated.

Even Superman wouldn't have been as welcome, she thought, as Clark. Aw that was very sweet, Nan.

Mona

Very nice, Nan!

~Sheila

It's never inappropriate to discuss proper food safety techniques!

LOL Nan, ah that brought back some nasty memories! LOL. Laura

What to say... This is a wonderful sweet short. There's nothing better than being taken care of when you are ill.

This story very nicely gave me my WAFFy fix for the day.

Bob

Lovely story, in a gut wrenching kind of way...

Reading your stories is like watching a video. You do such an excellent job of describing things.

James

Now that explains a lot in regards to that Christmas dinner. Sweet and funny little vignette.

Michael

Salmonella's no fun. When I was in college I sang with a chorale group for four years, and we traveled a lot. One Sunday afternoon, we went about seventy miles west of our home base, sang at a church, and drove back. But while we were setting up our equipment, the ladies in the group (except for one) ate at the spread the church put out for us. That one young lady (call her Cindy) and all the guys ate when we finished our setup.

About 36 hours later, every one of the guys except Cindy's husband - and including Cindy - became violently ill. We'd eaten something that gave us all mild cases of food poisoning and we all called "Ralph" on the porcelain telephone for several hours.

So Lois, I sympathize with you. I have felt your pain, sore stomach muscles and burning throat and dizziness and blurred vision and all the rest. I tell you, the story made me sick!

But it was very a sweet tale, Nan. And it totally fits in with Lois's lack of kitchen skills. I wonder if Lois will remember this episode when she finally figures out The Secret?

Nice little story. One minor thought - wouldn't "It Happened One Christmas" or "...At Christmas" be a slightly better title? I don't know about the USA, but in Britain we'd say "At Christmas" or possibly "On Christmas Day" but not just "on Christmas"

I liked the simplicity of this story Nan.

It was sweet to see the hints Lois needs to put 2 and 2 together.. but being sick, she can't process the clues in front of her.

Your stories are always so well written.. the compassion from Clark... the not being able to see past the next toilet visit for Lois... I enjoyed it.

This story makes me weary of ever trying a turkey christmas dinner though... having never had one (it's always been summer at christmas for me.. so pool, bbq, seafood... no turkey), and now reading this... Undercooked turkey isn't that common is it??

Hi Nan,

Never thought I would enjoy a story about salmonella, but this was very sweet.

Poor Lois, and Clark as always so understanding and caring. You write so well, Nan.

Yours Jenn

This was really cute, Nan! I, too, addressed Lois' luck with cooking in my Thanksgiving story last year, but this is so much more true to form!

It's just so Lois to almost kill herself with undercooked turkey -- and I love that Clark was fine.

And I somehow was listening to some Christmas music on my Zune today, so this was a nice treat. I am all about Christmas in summer!

Thanks everyone for the very nice feedback. That discussion on the boards last week just wouldn't go away until I wrote something about it.

Nan

Cute story, Nan. If worshiping at the porcelain throne can ever be called cute!
Marcus - I didn't notice the title at all until you said something about it. "Day" is understood. It's just one of those common language differences. Like every time I read "go to hospital" I keep wanting to say "go to the hospital" in stories written by our UK friends.

Artemis