The Tale of Zachary Willowbrook: A Leap Day Paradox

Chapter 10: The Flu

Before Stacy entered the bathroom, Emma was standing outside of Audrey's room. "Miss Willowbrook, Audrey threw up on her bed."

Stacy gasped. "She did? Wait here. I'm going to check on Audrey, and then I'm going to call your mommy, okay?"

Emma nodded. "Okay, Miss Willowbrook."

Stacy entered the bathroom to find Audrey hunched over by the toilet. She was crying. Her pajamas were covered in a little vomit.

When Audrey saw her mother, she got to her knees and hugged her. "Ohhhhh....Mommy. I don't feel well...."

Stacy looked at Audrey's pajamas. A look of concern for her child filled her face. "Audrey....You wet your PJ's, and you're covered in vomit!"

Audrey cried. "I didn't want to throw up on the floor, and I had to go potty! I'm sorry about the accident, mommy...."

Stacy hugged Audrey on the clean part of her PJ's. "It's okay, honey. You're sick with the flu and you couldn't do both at once. Get into the bathtub. I'm going to give you a quick shower. But first, I'm going to call Emma's mommy, okay?"

Audrey let out her sickly groan. "But I want her to stay...."

Stacy stared at Audrey and sighed. "Audrey. If she stays, she'll be sick like you. She'll catch your flu bug. We don't want that, honey."

Audrey nodded. "I don't want her to be sick like me...." A short moment later, Audrey groaned again. "Mommy, I don't feel so well....!" With that, she began vomiting in the toilet again.

Stacy turned away from the white and red colored vomit. "I'm calling Emma's mom. Take off your clothes and get in the tub when you're done. I'll be right back, honey."

After rushing out of the bathroom, Stacy entered her room to grab her cellphone. She entered the hallway and called Gina. No answer. All she got was the answering machine. I'll try the house....

Stacy dialed the Robinson house. Harold, the husband answered. "What seems to be the problem, Mrs. Willowbrook? It's 4:30 in the morning!"

"I know that," Stacy said with a sigh. "Emma needs to be taken home. My daughter Audrey is sick with the flu. May I speak to Gina?"

"Just one second."

Stacy listened to the background noise. "Honey! Wake up! Your friend Mrs. Willowbrook is on the phone! She says that you need to pick up Emma because her daughter has the flu. Okay. Here she is."

"Hello? Stacy?" Gina said. "Is your daughter sick?"

"Yes," Stacy told her. "You need to pick up Emma. We don't want her to get Audrey's flu."

"Of course. We don't want that. I'll be right over."

Stacy hung up. After that, she noticed Emma standing next to her.

"Am I going home, Miss Willowbrook?" Emma asked.

Stacy nodded. "Yes, Emma. Audrey's sick, and I don't want you to get her flu bug. Your mommy's picking you up. Let's get your stuff downstairs, okay?"

Emma nodded. "Okay, Miss Willowbrook. I hope Audrey gets well soon...."

"I hope she does, too."

Stacy helped Emma get all her stuff downstairs. "Wait down here for your mom."

Emma nodded.

Stacy ran upstairs and entered the bathroom. Audrey was sitting in the bathtub. She groaned in a soft tone, just above a whisper.

"I flushed the icky vomit down the toilet, mommy." Audrey told her. "I still don't feel well."

Stacy nodded. "Let's clean you up."