“I wouldn’t even trust you to boil tea in your condition!”
Ann was sitting on the couch watching a movie, when she heard footsteps in the hallway.
She immediately knew it was Leslie. She had finally gotten her to go back to sleep, but she knew that wouldn’t last long. She had come down with strep throat over the weekend, but today Ben had to go into work so he couldn’t stay with her. So he called Ann to see if she could come over and stay with her, and she seemed happy to do it.
Leslie couldn’t be left alone in this condition. She was practically delirious with fever when she woke up this morning, and the last time she was delirious she got up to some pretty crazy things.
Ann quickly paused the movie, and stood up to investigate. “Leslie?” She called.
Ann found Leslie in her office. “Leslie, what are you doing out of bed,” she asked calmly.
“Hey Ann,” she slurred. “Just searching for the mermaid,” she swayed on the spot.
Ann reached out and stabilized her, placing a hand on her forehead. “Leslie sweetie, you’re burning up. You need to be resting,”
“I need to work to help the mermaids, Ann,” she coughed.
“Work? Honey, I wouldn’t even trust you to boil tea in your condition. You need to rest. Is your throat bothering you? Its almost time for your antibiotics again,”
Leslie swallowed. “The mermaids need me Ann,”
“You’re delirious honey. There’s no mermaids. Let’s get you back in bed okay?” She wrapped an arm around her shoulders to stabilize her.
“Okay,” she slurred.
When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Leslie groaned. “Can’t..do it,” she stuttered.
“It’s okay, we’ll just go to the couch,” she said in a soft tone.
“Okay,” Leslie croaked.
When Ann finally got her comfortable on the couch, she placed the thermometer under her tongue, and pulled it out when it beeped.
Ann looked at it. “103.1, sweetie.” She showed the thermometer to Leslie, and she squinted at it in confusion. “Can’t read, it’s in braille,” she slurred.
“Okay,” Ann said, laying a blanket over Leslie. “I’m going to go get your antibiotics, you stay here okay?”
“Ann?” Leslie asked.
“Yes honey,”
“My throat is spicy,”
“I know, I’m just going to go get your antibiotics, okay?”
Leslie sighed and closed her eyes. “Okay, you lovely majestic swan,”
By the time Ann got back with her medicine, she was out cold.