"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 23 - "Coughs, Spots and Runny Noses..."

Chapter 23 - "Coughs, Spots and Runny Noses..."

Clara's PoV

'They're getting their little germy hands over everything' Richard said as he wiped Ollie's disgustingly snotty nose with a tissue and then Ollie proceeded to wipe the rest of the snot over his pyjama top.

It was a disgusting habit that the two of them had picked up from school and something that even Poppy had started doing now thanks to the two of them.

'Not so shockingly... That's just what kids do' John said trying to contain all the snot that was spreading from person to person, but it was no use.

Everyone had the cold that comes with chicken pox. High fevers, snotty noses, coughs, chesty coughs, the only one that had seemed to have gotten away with the whole thing was Henry.

And John could not understand why.

'Come on Daddy. I need to go' Avia said begging John to hurry up.

'Alright I'm coming' he scoffed. 'I'll pick up some pizzas to make for lunch maybe? Not that many of them even have an appetite but it's worth a try' John said.

'Why haven't I got the chicken pox yet?' Avia mumbled.

'I don't know. It's the same with your brother. I don't know why Henry hasn't got them. I'd really quite like him to get them'

'What about me? Isn't it like dangerous as an adult?' She scoffed at his lack of worry for her and over worry for a two year old.

'If you don't get them then we'll just get you the vaccine. It'll be easier... Now where am I dropping you?'

'Outside Westfield and then you can pick me up in three hours from outside Westfield' Avia announced climbing in the front seat.

It was a huge step for John and quite one for Avia.

Avia and he friend Daisy and their friend Chloe were going shopping together in the local Westfield shopping centre. If was a huge step for John because it meant letting her go on her own.

He was planning on hovering in the shopping centre which he knows that Clara would have done but it might look overly creepy.

The whole reason it had been arranged while Clara was away was so that she didn't do something embarrassing like that.

So he figured he was best just going home in the meantime. She has a phone and would call if she needed anything. He trusted her.

On his way home he did indeed pick up some pizzas but when he got home he found that even Richard was so exhausted from the last few days that he was whacked out on the sofa with Poppy next to him.

John was a little concerned about Poppy the most. She was the first one to get the chicken pox and the last one to fight them.

Evie had been down for about 4 days but was starting to fade already, and Ollie had only had them for 24 hours and was already showing signs of improvement.

Poppy however was on day number 6 and was still really congested as well as having bad ears and not having eaten in a good few days. It was bad enough with all her eating problems that she hadn't eaten. But this was another matter.

She had been up at 4am in agony with ear pains that John didn't know what to do much about. He had gotten an emergency appointment for this evening but he was risking taking her in case she was still infectious.

'Did you bring pizza?' Henry asked as he appeared with Ollie in the kitchen hot on his tail.

The pair of them do everything together. They spend so much time together that they might as well be brothers.

John had just built a bunk bed in Henry's room so that Ollie had a bed to sleep on when he was here or came to stay. It was like having two homes.

'I did indeed. Would you like some?'

'Is it shaped like a robot again?' Henry squeaked as John lifted him onto the counter.

'Of course'

- - -

'Full blown double ear infections' John explained to me down the phone. I felt bad that I wasn't there to just scoop her up and cradle her until it went away but even if I was there - there was nothing I could do to change it.

I could hardly have any fun knowing that they were all coughing and sick and spreading germs.

Although in some ways it was nice not to be there. Lilly was just relived. She doesn't deal well with illness of any kind and kids. It also means that the chances are that we will bypass the illness too.

'How did you know?'

'She was complaining all night about her ears. And you always know when a kid is in serious pain or if their making it up. Plus the symptoms of an ear infection include snot and coughs. She's also got another chest infection just to add so she's popping pills like there's no tomorrow'

'You sending them to school tomorrow?' I asked. 'It is a Friday?'

'Henry yes. Avia yes. Evie is a maybe. Depends how much dinner she eats. Poppy is a definite no. She hasn't eaten anything but a little cereal in over 72 hours. The doctor said once the medication kicks in she should become more of an appetite again but well see'

'What's she up to now?'

'Her and Evie are on the wii. Think they're playing some singing frozen game'

'I wondered why it sounded like two drowning cats in the background' I chuckled.

'At least she's up and about. She's been so miserable the last few days that at least playing a game or something might entice her appetite'

- - -

'What's up with you?' John hummed as he poked Richards cheek. 'You have had chicken pox right?'

'Of course I have' Richard mumbled. 'I'm just not feeling all that great. You know tired and snotty. If doesn't help with all these snotty kids' he hummed.

'Alright well you can go to bed if you like? Or play on the x box in the spare room? I can put Poppy to bed. Chances are she'll sleep in my bed again anyway' John bargained as Richard went to get off the sofa but couldn't be bothered to move.

Unsurprisingly to John - he was in the same place the following morning.