Blair Sandburg sat shivering at one end of the couch encased in an afghan and a spare blanket. "Man, this really, really sucks!" His next tremor was greeted by a steaming mug of hot chocolate lowering in front of his face. He glanced up to see Jim standing behind him.
“Drink, this, Chief. It will warm your bones.”
Blair wriggled his hand out from under the covers and accepted the drink. “Actually, Big Guy, that’s a myth.”
Jim circled the sofa to join his friend. “What’s a myth?” He sat at the opposite end of the couch.
Blair started to sip but the steam scalded his nose and he set the mug aside. “The whole notion that you can drink something hot and ‘warm your bones’. In fact when you ingest something hot your body works to bring it to body temperature thereby expending unnecessary energy that could be generated for keeping you warm in the first place.. I mean you might feel warmer immediately but it actually results in somewhat greater body heat loss....”
“Chief, “ Jim interrupted. “Just enjoy it for the nice chocolatey taste.” He took a swig from his own cup. “Sure glad the stove is gas.”
“Sorry, Jim, I know you’re just trying to help.” He pulled the covers more tightly around him. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this cold.”
Jim looked sympathetically at his friend. He reached over and dropped a hand on Blair’s shoulder. Massaging gently he said, “I have an idea.”
“We can go sit in the truck and turn on the heater?”
Jim chuckled. “That would work. But not what I had it mind.” There was a pause. “Come here.” Jim motioned with his head. When Blair didn’t move Jim repeated his request this time tugging gently on the blanket encouraging the young man to move in his direction. When he had Blair at his side he slipped the blankets from around him.
Blair reacted. “Jim! This is NOT helping.”
Jim ignored this and pulled Blair close, draping the blankets across them both. He then settled in wrapping his arm around his friend. Blair relaxed against Jim absorbing the warmth from the added body heat. Jim rested his head on Blair’s for a moment. “Better?”
Blair nodded, comfortable now, the physical warmth from Jim’s body coupled with the warmth of their friendship.
Note: Blair's lecture comes from something a professor told us about 20 odd years ago.