I woke up
with a headache. My sinuses stuffed and throat sore. I probably had fever. I
knew I had to go to classes because of the ones I skipped without a real
reason. For a moment there lying in a comfortable bed I thought: What the heck.
I don’t care even if I fail… But then I heard Nat going down the stairs and I
knew I wouldn’t be able to face her. I mean Mom would be difficult too, but she
knows me. She knows I am a mess underneath those As. But Nat she doesn’t want
to see the mess I am. She wants to believe I am brilliant. Just looking at her
eyes and telling her that I failed..… oh… I had to get up.
Trying to
pretend I felt better then I really had I got ready and decided to skip
breakfast so Nat wouldn’t notice anything. Of course, she has a freaking sixth
sense.
“Hey, Nat”
I stood in the doorway and blurted quickly “I have to hurry. I overslept. We have
a discussion class” And I started for the front door
“Anna,
aren’t you going to eat before you go?”
“I’ll grab
something on the way” I sent her kisses and went for the door again.
“Are you
getting sick, honey? Wait a second.” She was walking towards me.
“Yeah, I
think I might be. Don’t get to close though” the third one’s a charm.. or not.
I felt her
hand on my shoulder. Her eyes locked with mine the moment I turned around.
“Is
everything OK?” but the suspicious tone was gone when she took a good look at
me. Her hand on my forehead. “You have fever, sweetie! You should be in bed.
You really should go back. You are allowed to be absent 3 times per semester,
you know.” (yeah, I knew and used it all up already) She turned to go up the
stairs under the impression I was going to follow.
“Nat, I
don’t feel that bed. I’ll just go to the first two classes and then I’ll come
back. It’s really important I am there”
“Are you
sure, sweetie?” I thanked God she doesn’t think as sharp as usual when she is
worried.
“Yeah…”I
wished I could hug her. But didn’t want her to get sick too…
The day was
so long. I was about to fall asleep the whole time. My head was heavy. I felt
cold and just longed for my warm bed. And the classes dragged on. Linda would
get me tea in the breaks and I would put my head on my hands and try to rest at
least a little bit. The medicine I took was not working at all. I couldn’t go
to the doctors because he was our neighbor’s nephew and visited his uncle at
least once every two weeks.
I felt so
weak. By the fourth class I started feeling dizzy. And during the break I
collapsed. Linda was too quick on the phone and next thing I knew I was waiting
for Nat in the hallway. I was only thanking God the teacher witnessed the fainting
and panicked so I was safe. Well, at least with him because he was the one who
told me to go home and rest and that he would overlook my absence.
Nat
arrived, her heels making a sharp sound on the wooden floor. At the same time I
was scared, I knew the scolding was inevitable, but also happy and relieved. I
just wanted to cuddle.
“You told
me you were going to come home after the second class” She stood in front of
me. The dizziness was making her scarier than usual. I realized I was never
sick during the stay at her house. Must be the food she was making me eat. I
half smiled.
“Exactly
what is funny?”
“No, not
funny. It’s just that … I am kind of dizzy…”
“Should have
obeyed and stayed at home, shouldn’t you?!” We were already walking and every
part of my body felt so heavy and weak. I stopped and hugged her. I needed the
comfort. Always a bit stiff when it comes to cuddling she put her hand on my
hair and kissed the top of my head. I mumbled:
“I am
sorry, Mom… Nat” Whoa! I couldn’t
believe what I just said! I suddenly felt so guilty. I wished my Mom was there…
She would hug me properly… but I still wasn’t letting go of Nat.
“Let’s go,
honey”, she patted me gently on my butt.
****
Nat woke me
up at about 7pm. Mark was about to come (of course he couldn’t say no to her!
It was soo obvious I thought to myself) . I felt a bit better. I took a shower
and was even getting hungry.
I came down
the stairs, had couple of spoons of her famous green peas, but even sitting in
a chair was just too tiring. I felt the fever rising. It was 102 F! I couldn’t
let them know! I’ll go for… 101? No… let’s say… 100.8. Yeah, that sounds
credible.
Mark was
writing it down. But I wasn’t sure Nat believed me. I half expected her to tell
me to take the temperature again. Mark seemed oblivious. I felt my lungs kind
of hurting. The cough wasn’t terrible and I was trying to keep it down, pretty
much successfully.
“Look, it
doesn’t seem too bad. Let’s hear your lungs” (no..) I dreaded that and I was
right. His face expression changed. “Hm.. this doesn’t sound right. Blood work
is necessary and I think some antibiotics will be too.” (my heart started
racing. Blood work. Oh… I hate that. I hate needles. But.. at least he
didn’t mention shots… that would be too much… and maybe if I get better by tomorrow, maybe I’ll figure out
a way to skip the laboratory. Wait what the heck is he doing. To my utter
surprise he was pulling out the equipment… No escape. Right there on the spot.
Nat watching. No escape. Shit.)
“Straighten
your arm.” He had a soothing voice but I could see that neither of them
realized that for me it wasn’t a routine blood work “it’s no biggie” stuff. He
tied that thing around my upper arm and prepared the needle. I wanted to look
brave. Nonchalant. Nat was taking the empty cups to the kitchen. Thank God! I
could look away and brace myself. It hurt… ok it’s not too bad…. It’s going to
be over soon… sooon… oh, come on Mark. OK… that’s done. I relaxed. Smile on my
face.
*****
I fell back asleep in no time. Nat brought me one of her squeezed juices, the not so
tasty beet one. It must have been midnight. She was probably working late. Or…
staying up for me… I felt terrible seeing her tired eyes.
She handed
me the thermometer. I put it a bit further than my armpit in order to prevent
the real number to show up. I had already devised the tactics. I’ll ask her for
something when it’s about to end and put it right so it does show something but
not too much.
“Drink up,
sweetie” I got ready for the undesired taste, but she had put honey in this time and
it was actually great! She gently brushed off the hair from my cheek. And then
held the hand on my forehead. She was worried. “You’re burning up. How do you feel?”
I felt horrible.
“well..
ok”. I wanted her to just go and let me rest. I remembered how my Mom would
stay up all night and take temperature down by rubbing alcohol all over my
body. I didn’t want that to happen. But at the same time I didn’t like that she
took her hand off my face. I needed a gentle touch. I always do. The
thermometer started beeping. Shit, I had forgotten to distract her and put it
right. She made a move to pull it out. I panicked.
“I think I
didn’t put it right”. She continued pulling it out, looked at it and the firm
gaze made a knot in my stomach. “Kim told me you were afraid of shots, but this
is childish Anna” She knew!! How did she see through me with such ease? I felt
embarrassed. “I’ve known you since you were a tiny baby! Did you really think
you can pull something like that with me?” She said as she was cleaning the
thermometer with ethanol. “Open up”
I was
appalled. “No, .. Nat, I’ll do it right” My hand was left empty in the air.
“Anna,
now.” She didn’t have to raise her voice. She had the coldest, ice tone when
she wanted. I felt ridiculous with that thing in my mouth but I was starting to
get too tired.
Of course
the fever had to have gone over 102. “We have to take it down.” She took away
my blanket. Soft warm blanket. And started at my feet. “Take off the top” As if
it wasn’t enough that she was pouring ice cold ethanol on my legs. And as if it
weren’t disgusting. I mean touching my feet! Yucky … The fabric of the shirt
was hurting my skin. At least I have some dignity left with the undershirt. The
alcohol went dry almost while she was rubbing it in. I could see she was
worried but at that point I no longer cared. I just wanted to sleep.
****
It was a
long night for both of us. I could hear that the phone woke her up.
“Yeah… I
guessed so. Ahm. No, no, don’t worry about that I know how to do it. No, she’s
not allergic. I know, God forbid… yes… of course. Thank you so much!... Yes…
I’ll let you know.”
In a haze I
wondered what it was that she knew how to do but I drifted off to sleep.
****
“Annie,
honey, wake up. I have to give you a shot before I leave.” A shot! That’s a
wake up strategy. Is she nuts!?? My eyes flung open to see her prepare the
syringe and the needle … the knot in my belly grew tighter. “I will be here
another two hours but we have to do it now in case you’re allergic. Come on,
get ready” She looked at me almost surprised that I hadn’t moved. What did she
expect me to willingly expose myself to the needle?! I was like hypnotized. I
felt the tears coming. The pending threat making my lips curl. She couldn’t
believe it.
“Oh, Anna,
come on! That is just too childish! You are not still afraid of a little
prick.” She appeared to find it funny.
Well at least she didn’t look worried. “Anna, honey, come on.” She took away my
soft blanket my wonderful cover and protection and I was left in my panties and shirt. I
turned to lie on my back, my butt safe, and recovered my voice.
“Nat, can’t
we… skip that…?” I was pleading and about to start crying my eyes already
welled up.
“Anna, stop being a brat and turn around this instant. Don’t make me spank you before I give you the shot” She was menacing but the needle was even more.
“Anna, stop being a brat and turn around this instant. Don’t make me spank you before I give you the shot” She was menacing but the needle was even more.
“Maybe… if
I don’t have the fever anymore..(and I felt pretty good) maybe we could…” her
left hand grabbed me by the waist and started turning me around. I wouldn’t
give in.
“Fine” she
put the top back on the needle. Her knee on the edge of the bed, my butt was up
in a second. She landed couple of quick smacks on the left cheek.
“ow!”
“Relax your
muscles” She was getting impatient and angry, but I couldn’t I was scared.
“Anna!” I crossed the line, sick or not, wham, wham, smack.. I arched my back
and my hand flew to protect my bottom. It ended up pressed against the small of
my back. SMACK
“owww”
“Will you
be still and relax, now?”
“uuhnn.. I
ca-an’t” Smack, smack, smack “doo- don’t.. smack …uhhh ….smack smack Na--- Nat”
My bottom
was already stinging when she landed a few really tough ones.
“I Smack told you Smack to relax SMACK. You will get the shot, you cannot evade it. So let’s get it over and done with. With you everything has to be drama.” I felt so terrible.. and stupid… I tried my best to relax. The cold ethanol on the cotton… her finger clicking at the syringe, her hand pulling my panties down (this is all so embarrassing ). “Count to five and it will be over and relax, OK, sweetheart?” She gently patted the spot and ouch! “Count!”
“I Smack told you Smack to relax SMACK. You will get the shot, you cannot evade it. So let’s get it over and done with. With you everything has to be drama.” I felt so terrible.. and stupid… I tried my best to relax. The cold ethanol on the cotton… her finger clicking at the syringe, her hand pulling my panties down (this is all so embarrassing ). “Count to five and it will be over and relax, OK, sweetheart?” She gently patted the spot and ouch! “Count!”
“UUUH.. one
.. uhh two.. “ I counted through the tears… “ Make it faster Nat .. three..
uhh… four… uuhh five. It’s overrrr”
“Almost,
sweetie” She pulled my panties back and set beside me stroking my hair gently.
“Sometimes
I think you’re a five year old in an adult body… “
“I feel like that, too…” my sobbing was calming down. My bottom was sore in more than one way. I went for a hug and ended up head in Nat’s lap, she stroking my hair with love.
“I feel like that, too…” my sobbing was calming down. My bottom was sore in more than one way. I went for a hug and ended up head in Nat’s lap, she stroking my hair with love.
I wished I
could stay there forever… and not go to university and face the professors..
and then… her… I couldn’t even imagine what she would do…
Wait til she finds out you've used all your sick days and have been lying! *get's the carrot sticks (coz i can't haz popcorn) and waits eagerly for next story.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your support!!! :) :) :) I am working on it :) :) :)
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