Just Delirious
IT’S OFFICIAL, JACK HAS THE flu. He wasn’t much better two days ago when we took him to the doctor. She did a few tests but her conclusion today is the flu. Betsy kept her promise and stayed home with him while she worked. I spent a few hours with Don and Denver at her house working on the floors but cut out early. I was so tired. When I got home, Betsy had made a big pot of beef barley soup and I had a bowl with Jack in his room, took a shower and fell asleep before nine.
My alarm is going off and it feels like it’s spiking directly into my head. I turn it off and sit up on the side of my bed. Ugh, I don’t feel like I got any sleep even though I had almost ten hours. My head feels heavy and my head is throbbing. I pull on my clothes, brush my teeth and walk to Jack’s room. He is still asleep so I head down to make some coffee but Betsy has beaten me to it. She is dressed for work and just pushing the coffee maker’s brew button.
“Hey, Bets, you going in today?” I ask as I pour myself a bowl of cereal. I’m not the least bit hungry but I choke some spoonfuls down knowing if I don’t, I’ll regret it.
She nods. “Yeah, but I’ll be home by four.” She peers at me. “Are you going in today?”
“Yep, I’ll come home for lunch and check on him though, so he should be fine. Theresa offered to have him stay with her since her apartment is directly above the store she owns. He wants to go, but I won’t let him until he’s not contagious which should be tomorrow.”
“Theresa sounds awesome,” she says and I nod in agreement because she is. “It’s not an inconvenience for me to take a few half days or work from home, though. It’s the least I can do for you guys.”
“You don’t owe us anything. You being here has been more of a benefit for us than you I’m sure. Jack wants to go to Theresa’s, he says he needs a mom figure to dote on him.”
She rolls her eyes. “You two, you guys need so much babying.”
I smile because she’s mostly right. “You only want what you can’t have.”
Her eyelids drop and then her face follows into her hands. “I’m an asshole.”
“You aren’t,” I say and rub her back. “I’m going to head out, I’ll see you at four, okay?”
She nods and I grab my to go coffee mug that says “I’m a fucking unicorn, bitch,” on it.
* * *
I spend a few miserable hours trying to work on the floor until Don kicks me out. “Joe, go home, you are useless.”
“Gee thanks, Don. I’m so glad I pay you to prop me up.” I do feel like shit and he does look a bit concerned.
“You definitely do not pay for that, jack hole. It’s just I got a flu shot, but I’m old as fuck and I don’t want to catch a strain I’m not covered for.” He points to the face mask he’s been wearing. “I’m not wearing this for fumes, it’s because I don’t want your fucked-up germs.”
I hold up my hands and then stand up from my kneeling position and almost pass out. As I stumble, Denver rushes to keep me upright. “Thanks, Den,” I say as I lean over, resting my hands on my thighs. “I’m only going to say this once in your life, Don, so listen up. You are right.” His eyes light up and he takes his phone from the holster on his belt.
“Can you repeat that, I need a recording,” he says holding his phone to my face.
I bat his hand away. “I told you, just the once.” He fake pouts and puts the phone away. “You guys can handle the floors, it’s just going to take a little longer. I’ll see if I can pull Luz from the Sunset project to help. She’s better at this than you two anyway.”
“Cold, bro,” Don says. “Also, true so I won’t take offense. Go home and go to bed.”
* * *
The house is quiet when I get home, and when I get to Jack’s room he’s gone. I text him a quick message as I walk to my room.
Me: Where’d you go Jackie-boy? Gone to live in the forest?
This is my standard way of asking him where he is at any time. He loves it. While I’m waiting for a response, I take my pants and shirt off and get into bed. I’m just drifting off to sleep when my phone dings.
Jack: My forest days are long gone, bro. I’m at Theresa’s.
Me: I thought you were going tomorrow?
Jack: I needed her smoothies and her kick-ass record collection.
Me: I wasn’t aware this was the new flu curing protocol.
Jack: You need to read more.
Me: It’s probs for the best, I think I caught your plague and don’t want to relapse you.
Jack: Oh no, dude, sorry.
Me: It’s cool, I was the one who taught you how to share.
Jack: Ha, true. Let B take care of you.
Me: I’ll try. Love you.
Jack: Love you too.
I send a quick text to Betsy so she won’t rush home.
Me: Hey Bestie. No need to rush home, Jack already flew the coop.
Bestie: Aw, the little chicken is feeling better?
Me: That or the grass is greener over at Theresa’s.
Bestie: Ouch.
Me: Can’t compete with pb banana smoothies and 70s freedom rock vinyl.
Bestie: Who could?
Me: Not us, unfortunately. See you later.
Bestie: Cool, you coming to my show tonight?
Me: I wouldn’t miss it.
Bestie: Okay, I’ll see you there. I could use some extra hours to catch up here, then I’ll just head straight to LM.
Me: Okay, get to work!
I definitely do not make her show. I do wake up around four in the afternoon with a fever and a searing headache. I drag myself to the kitchen and force down some ibuprofen and water. The thought of walking back up the stairs makes me want to weep so instead I slump over to the couch and snuggle up under my mom’s blanket and pass out.
The slam of a door drags me into consciousness but only because it makes my headache worse and I probably need more meds.
“Hey, asshole!” I hear Betsy shout at me.
When I crack an eyelid open, I see her stomp over to me in one of her sexy ass wrap dresses still in full hair and make-up. Her face is twisted in anger and I finally realize I told her I’d go to her show. That was not the right thing to do.
“Sorry,” my voice is barely audible.
She finally gets a full look at me and my now shivering form and kneels next to me. It’s freezing in here. “Oh my god, Joe, you look awful.” She places her warm hand on my forehead and it feels nice. “You have a fever.”
I nod and snuggle into the couch again, still shivering. She stands and I feel the weight of another blanket on me. My shivers calm a little. I’m not sure how long she’s gone but she’s back kneeling next to me and saying something.
“Joe, can you sit up?” she asks and I nod and it hurts. With her help, I sit up against the arm of the couch. She takes the thermometer and sticks it gently in my ear.
“You get a more accurate temp using an anal thermometer,” I say because I can’t stop flirting.
“You have one of those?” she asks, smiling.
“No,” I say because it’s all I can manage. The thermometer beeps and she looks at it.
“It’s 103, which is high. Have you taken anything recently?”
I shake my head. She feeds me some tablets and water. “My head,” I say because I can’t put a full sentence together.
“Joe, can I help you up to your room? You’ll be more comfortable there.” I nod and weakly lift myself up, putting a lot of weight on her.
We make it up the stairs only bumping into the walls a few times. She pulls my covers back and I sit on the edge of the bed. I’m still only in my boxer briefs. “Thanks.”
“Do you want a shirt or something, so you’re not cold?” she asks.
I shrug and fall back onto my mattress and then pull up the covers to my chin. She sits next to me and threads her hands in my hair, stroking. It feels so nice. “Nice,” I mumble and she laughs softly.
“I’m going to take care of you, Joe,” I think she says before I drift off.