He held his hands up in despair. “I am not taking my second shot if you don’t take your first shot.”
“You,” she stopped and rolled her eyes.
“Me, what?”
She exasperated. “Do as you like,” she retorted with a tinge of irritation.
“Of course I am going to do as I like,” he remarked playfully.
She was quiet.
“What?” he asked.
“What?” she echoed.
“Why no reaction? Everything, ok?” he stated smiling slightly.
“Would my reacting make a difference to you? You’re as stubborn as a stone.”
“Whatever,” he hummed mischievously, “and throw as many tantrums as you wish but I am not taking the second shot if you don’t take your first shot.”
She cleared her throat and exhaled. “You know I am not on the list because I am not a resident of Paris . . . and . . . and you also know that I cannot go back home because the lockdown in London is on until the beginning of May, and we are currently only in the first week of March. So understand, please. . .”
He became thoughtful and breathed heavily because summer was coming up, and if she was not vaccinated, then it would have certainly become an impediment for her to travel as freely.
“What are you thinking?” she asked holding onto his hand.
His eyes met squarely with her eyes. “What say we take a chance.”
She shook her head. “You know if I get stuck in London it’s going to be such a bother.”
“Yah, but at least you’ll still be at home.”
“You are a darling,” she said pinching his nose lovingly, “take your second shot and I’ll take mine whenever I can.”
He shook his head vehemently. “Not until you don’t take your first shot.”
“You’re impossible!” she exclaimed with some restlessness.
ONE MONTH LATER
He and two of his friends were at the pub. “So did you take that second shot?” asked the friend.
He shook his head.
“Why not?”
“Because she didn’t take her first shot.”
The friend took a sip of beer. “Are you fucking serious!”
He nodded.
“And she didn’t tell you that she won’t take her first shot until you had taken your second shot?” asked the other friend.
“Nope,” he said softly.
“What fools,” said the friend lighting a cigarette, “what fools.”