When I was a tiny little nadger sack
of around 11, there was a report in the local scandal-rags that some nut-case had sent a letter threatening to release dogs infected with rabies into the british countryside if he wasn't paid a ransom.

To an 11 year old with a vivid imagination who had recently seen "Cujo", this was slightly alarming.

Well, not slightly. Horror inducing, more like.

I spent probably about two weeks CONVINCED that I had been infected with rabies (I seem to remember thinking I could have caught it from a spider or from dog drool on the grass where I played football). The article had helpfully told me the symptoms, one of which was "restlessness". Which is also a symtom of being terrified that you have caught rabies, unfortunately.

During a maths test, I ended up crying in the sick room like a little baby sissy pants, but even then I knew if I said I thought I had rabies they would laugh at me, so I just said I felt sick.

Even now, just the word "rabies" makes me shiver a little.
( baw__bag contains traces of nuts on, Mon 14 Apr 2008, 17:08, Reply)