What's Up Doc?

T W O

2000~ Present.

"Mom are you okay?" I hear Chris ask faintly and I snap back to reality. Chris is 16 and Gabe is 13 and they are both gentlemen. I watch as he brings me a bowl of soup and rubs my back.
"Yes dear I'm fine" I smile and he smiles back then heads over to the sink to wash up.

Taking a sip, it takes me back to when I use to whip up a good ole' spicy soup for the boys when they were ill.

1996~ Flashback.

"How are you feeling dear?" I ask Chris bringing him a bowl of my mom's special recipe soup. It was great for the cold and harsh illnesses such as the measles.
"I hate this" he says scratching and I slap away his hand.
"Now don't irritate it anymore, drink this" I rest the bowl on his lap and feed him slowly.

Heading back to the kitchen, I look into Gabe's room and see him coloring a picture he drew last week in class.
"That's beautiful dear" I prop up against his door and smile. He looks up and smiles then rushes towards me.
"This is us, dad, Chris, you, me and Kenny"
"Who's Kenny?" I ask trying to depict what he's drawn.
"That's my butterfly" I giggle and hold the picture.
"You can keep it mom" he says and goes back to the floor to colour some more. I shake my head and head to the kitchen and pin the drawing on the fridge with a magnet I got from the market.

There's a knock at the door and I look  to that direction to try to identify the shadow. It looks like Frank but why would he knock?
"Hi, may I help you?" I open up to see a tall, slender woman at the door.
"Hi Martha, how are you?" she asks with a bright smile and I nervously smile and wipe my hands in my apron.
"I'm fine, and you are?" I inquire and she giggles.
"Oh you silly chile, I know you haven't forgotten your favorite aunty so soon" she chuckles and I nervously laugh.
"Umm come on in then" I step aside and she comes in.
"The place looks dainty, I imagined it to be much bigger by now"
"Oh um, we haven't gotten the chance to expand as yet, Frank's working on it" I smile, trying to keep composure as I still haven't remembered this face.
"Oh Frank, how is he dear?"
"He's fine" I take off my apron and fiddle my thumbs.
"Where are the boys?"
"Chris isn't feeling well and Gabe's in his room"
"Oh, well I'd like to see my lovely great nephews" she says and heads upstairs and I follow behind.

"Aunty Georgia!" Gabe exclaims and I chuckle.
"Hi pumpkin, how are you?"
"I'm good, look what I drew" Gabe excitedly shows her his drawing and she smiles and nods.
"It's beautiful dear, keep it up" she hands back the drawing and heads into Chris' room.
"Hey Pigeon, how's the nest?"
"Aunty Georgia, hey" he laughs and I giggle.
"The nest is great, it's the measles that suck!" he says and she laughs.
"Well you get better soon dear"

We head back to the front and I offer her lemonade.
"Oh shucks no, water's fine" she says and smiles. I nod and grab a glass from the cabinet.
"Martha, have you heard from Ben lately?"
"Ben? Who's that?" I return with the water and she looks at me with twisted brows and laughs.
"You were always the funniest of my sister's children" she sips and places it on the table.
"Ben's our neighbour from Chestshirefield, last I heard, he had cancer" she takes another sip of the water and sits up.
"Oh well, no I haven't" I say scratching my head and she looks at me with a twisted brow.
"Are you okay?" she asks holding my hand and I smile and nod.

Georgia leaves shortly before Frank comes home with flour from the mill.
"Hey honey" he pecks my lips and I smile.
"How was work?"
"It was good, today wasn't so tiring" he smiles and I nod.
"How are you feeling?" he asks resting the flour on the kitchen counter.
"I'm good, my aunt came by today, she's visiting my mom, I haven't even had time to head over there" I sigh and he rubs my shoulders.
"I promised to carry you next week when I'm off from work honey, everything will be fine" he looks into my eyes and I can tell he's worried about me because I forgot again.

I head to Chris' room to get the bowl and check up on him. He's asleep and the fever has gone down. I kiss him on  his forehead and head back to the kitchen. I rest the flowered bowl in the sink and exhale sharply.

2000~ Present.

I sit staring at the chipped flowered bowl as the soup gets cold. Chris comes over and slides the bowl away from me.
"Mom it's 3:30pm, you have a Doctor's appointment at 4, are you finished with this?" he looks into my eyes and I smile.
"Yes son, thanks" I rise up and head to my room to get dressed. I see my journal on the cabinet and sit to read it.

"Mom are you ready?" I hear Chris call from the other side of the door  the clock reads 3:55 and I reply,
"Ready for what?" he opens the door slowly and comes in to find me sitting at the cabinet in my nighty.
"Your appointment, get ready" he says and frowns.
"Oh, what time is it for?"
"4" was all he said and I jump up.
"I'm late, why didn't you tell me something earlier" he sighs and I scrimmage through the closet.

Chris stood at the door with my handbag and I past him then he follows so I can lock up.
"Mom, how are you feeling?" Chris asks on our way to the office and I smile.
"I'm fine dear, thanks" He smiles and holds my hand.

We arrive at the Doctor's office in about 10 minutes and luckily I'm early. The appointment is at 4:30.
"Mrs.Reed?" The nurse calls my name and I stand and follow her inside. The doctor looks up and smiles and I smile back.
"Good Evening Mrs.Reed"
"What's Up Doc?"