You Stole My Heart

Part 28: Being Sick For A Day

       October 19, 1973. It's cold weather time.

I woke up with a very stuffy nose, my throat hurts. All three of us had a fever, Roger me and little Benjamin.

I got up to feed Benjamin. It was already nine o'clock in the morning. I let Roger sleep well, he didn't feel well.

Benjamin suffered from crying spells for days, and every time he drinks a lot of milk for a longer period of time, it all comes out after fifteen minutes.

Benjamin was sleeping at my breast, drinking, thank God, he's not crying this time. I felt incredibly warm, Benjamin's little body too. I sighed, and long to lie down.

I heard Roger coughing from the bedroom, he had the flu really bad, just like us.

Benjamin was already fully awake. I put him in his high chair in his bedroom, Benjamin also suffered from sneezing attacks.

Roger had to wake up, he had to practice with the band for the new song. I put Benjamin back in his bed, he fell right back to sleep, he had so much fever..

I went to make some tea for Roger, he had to drink something in the morning.  I walked upstairs with the tray in my hands, opening the door gently to see if Roger was still asleep.

Roger was still asleep, looking sweaty. I rubbed Roger's forehead. "Wake up, darling." I whispered. Roger opened his eyes, "Oh yes, I have to rehearse."  Roger said in a squeaky voice from coughing.

"You'd better stay home Rog, you're still sick. And besides, we're all sick." I sniffed while I could hardly breathe because of my stuffy nose.

Roger nodded, "I'm going to call Freddie right away." Roger said as he put on his slippers and bathrobe. I looked at Roger and lay down on the bed, there were tissues all over the floor. Being sick is hell.

"Hello Fred? Hey Good morning, I don't think I can come. I am very sick, Antonia and little Benjamin too. Is it okay if I take the day off?" Roger called Freddie. His voice was half gone.

Roger came walking back to the bedroom, "Freddie allowed me to stay at home." said Roger. I put an arm around Roger. "You feel hot, Antonia."  Roger said with shining eyes. "I know, I don't feel well." I coughed.

Roger felt over my forehead, "Come on, let's lie down on the couch. I don't feel well either, my legs are shaking." Roger said as he held my hand.

"I let Benjamin sleep in his bed, he just fell asleep when I put him in his high chair." I laughed. Roger grinned and went downstairs. "Oh that poor boy, he's so terribly sick too." Roger sighed and pulled out the blankets for the sofa.

I loved that Roger was home for a day. A sick day was nice on the plus side.

Roger came back from the kitchen and lay down on the couch, "Would you like a magazine too?" I asked. Roger shook his head and lay on his side. "No honey, I have a headache. Everything is spinning." Roger yawned "So have I, we caught a bad virus Roger."

I heard Benjamin crying from his bedroom. I got up from the couch with weak legs. "Mommy is coming to get you, honey." I yawned.

Benjamin was crying all over. "Poor boy, so sick." I whispered. I walked downstairs with Benjamin, I put a rug in the living room for him to play on.

Suddenly I felt my stomach rise. My breakfast flew out. I covered my mouth and ran like a fast hare to the toilet to throw up. "Are you okay honey?"  Roger asked in a squeaky voice. I had a hard time talking because of my gag reflex.

Roger came walking up to me, he rubbed my back. "Throw it out darling, the sooner you get rid of it." Whispered Roger. "I hope you don't throw up Rog."  I said awkwardly.  Roger tore off a piece of toilet paper to clean my mouth. "It will be all right."  Roger said as he kept me up.