Called in Sick and How my Day Went

I've skipped school and college many, many times but calling in sick at work was still on my to-do list. Every employee knows if you miss a day at work, it comes out of your salary and this was the same with me. I was so terrified by the thought of having a reduced paycheck that I wouldn’t have missed a day of work even if it meant having a 103 degree fever. But January 24, 2012 was the day when I actually took that risk and called in ‘sick’.

I just came out from a steamy hot shower and was still in my bathrobe. Strangely, though I was already running late for work I just had to check my Facebook. This cost me a few more minutes whilst still in my bathrobe! Anyways, I felt a little buzz coming from where I sat. It was my phone vibrating and my cousin Farwa was calling. ‘Strange’ was what I thought at first as she only calls when something’s either wrong or when she wants a job done. I picked up and she rushed through within seconds. Apparently, I was supposed to call in sick at work and go to her house so that she, her brother (Sadat) and I go to the National College of Arts to celebrate. Earlier that week, we went there to help out Farwa’s friend with her finals project which she passed with flying (throttling) colors. This is why we had to go to ‘celebrate’.

She hung up saying “Be at my place in ten minutes”.

“What the heck just happened?” I thought to myself. Here I am dripping wet in my robe getting ready for work and now within seconds, I’m supposed to be at Farwa’s place? I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) call her back because I was afraid she’d scold me for not hurrying. I made up my mind. NCA it is.

I drove as fast as I could, while munching on some chocolates of-course. All through the way, I was worried about missing work and I still hadn’t informed them that I wasn’t going to make it.

Fifteen minutes later, I was at Farwa’s place parking my bike when the main door flew open and out she came rushing and shouting at Sadat for not hurrying up. Gulp! She saw me and instructed me to get in the car as she reversed. We waited for two minutes outside her house for Sadat and then, he finally ran out holding his shoe in his hand and leaped onto the back seat.

This was probably the first time I’d seen Farwa drive so fast, it felt like a Grand Theft Auto scene. We pulled over at a shopping mall to get some party hats and what not and finally managed to make it to the National College of Arts. I barely finished the Swiss roll I bought earlier, when Farwa flung out of the car and hurried into the hall. Sadat and I took our time. My mouth was still full with the chocolate roll and I was nervous to get out giving someone a chance to catch a glimpse of my bloated mouth.

It was nearly six pm, and I was due two hours ago at work. What troubled me most was that I’d still not informed my leave to the office. A few minutes later Sadat urged me to call and I did. My boss was clearly annoyed because I had to help him with a new project of his. And I had to work double time the following day! Let’s be honest; that is cruel!

Apart from this, the three of us had a spectacular time together going through the most awe-inspiring displays. Later we went to a local bazaar where I helped Sadat buy two quality jeans for a quarter of their price! So yes, calling in sick was totally worth it even though I had to work twice as much the next day and then eventually ended up with the worst case of flu.

What I didn’t mention was that the three of us spent the rest of the day shoplifting some candy bars at a local supermarket and then torched a school bus. Not to forget break out prisoners from the nearest jail and abduct an old man and beat him up with his own walking stick. Did I mention winning a lottery and then getting robbed? 


Good times...

You can stop reading now you know…