Bliss

8 - Ingrid

I lay in bed, or . . . the couch, feeling slightly better. I hate throwing up. That smell, the feeling, and the gross visual. Last night when I puked, Sky looked like she was going to hurl also. Maya's always been a better "nurse" than Sky. She slept on the floor instead of the couch, hand fed me, and even read to me. It sounds pretty ridiculous, but it really helped. I can't remember what exactly she read me. We don't have many books. As for Sky, she told me not to throw up on her. Sky left this morning, and Siena and Lily stay home from school to take care of me. I don't know where Maya went but I'm too lazy to ask.

"How ya feelin', Ingrid?" Siena asks in her baby voice. Her eyes stare at me, waiting for a hopeful answer.

"I'm feeling much better," I tell her. "Thanks to you." Siena's lips form into a smile.
"Get some rest," Lily orders. "Maya says so."

"I don't need rest." I say. My stomach's a little upset, but I don't need rest at all. I was feeling a little groggy, and then I remembered something. "No, I have to get to work!" I stand up quickly and all the blood

rushes to my head. I sit back down.

"Maya told the mail department that you're sick," Siena says. "Besides, why would you want to mail to a bunch of no-good--" I hear someone enter the room from one of the bedrooms. I don't bother to look, but I can tell by the sound of their footsteps that all three of them leaving. The rude soldiers, that is. They slam the door. I reminds me of the door slamming at Niall's house. Just thinking of Harry makes my head hurt even more.

"A bunch of no-good-soldiers!" Siena finishes. "And if you did, then we would have to send you to the emergency room." I laugh so hard it hurts. Siena touches my hand and I smile at her, the fact that she's so adorable and how good she comforts.

"Do you need any breakfast?" she asks.

"No, later, thank you," I say.

I sleep the day out. I have a late breakfast-lunch of mostly fruits and vegetables. Siena and I sit in front of the T.V., watching the public channel, which is nothing but pep talks about society. Siena teaches me how to knit.

"You're a pretty good teacher," I say and Siena sighs. "What?"

"I don't know," she says. "Sometimes I just miss my teacher." I sigh as well because I don't know how to respond to that. I never really liked school all that much. Siena rests her head on my shoulder. I stroke her red curly hair.

When Sky gets home, around 14:00, she greets me eagerly. Sky looks extra beautiful today with her long blond hair in a braid. Strands of hair aren't in her face like mine is currently. I put my hair today in a ponytail.

"How are you doing?" she asks.

"I feel better," I say. "I'll be ready to go to work tomorrow."

"We have no work tomorrow remember?" Sky reminds me and sits on the couch.

"Oh, right." If tomorrow is Saturday, everyone gets a day off to clean up. On Sunday, that's when we eat our Sunday meals. Monday, the packages get re-delivered.

"This feels so great," Sky says, as usual. She hates her job and she describes the days off as "freedom." "I need to get out more, Ingrid. I do nothing these days."

"Well, what do you want to do?" I ask her.

"I'm thinking . . . we need a plan for tomorrow."

I scoff. "A plan," I echo.

Sky ponders for a minute. "We haven't been to the park."

"The park?" I say. "That's our big plan?"