The Stories of Our Heroes

Sick Days

Third Person POV

Age 8

"Mommy?" Percy sniffled from the kitchen doorway, still in his pajamas.

Sally turned around, it had been a while since Percy had called her mommy. "Honey, what's wrong? Why aren't you dressed for school?"

"I don't-" he sneezed "-I don't feel very good." He shuffled over to his mother and laid his head against her arm. That was concerning, Percy hardly ever complained about being sick.

She pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Oh, Percy, you're burning up. You need to stay home today."

"Oh no he's not," snarled a voice that made both mother and son shudder. "I've got important people coming over so there can't be any..." Gabe looked over Percy with a sneer. "Distractions."

"Did you buy that cheap beer for those important people?" Percy mumbled.

"What did the punk just say?" Gabe growled, stepping forward.

"He didn't say anything, dear," Sally said using her sweetest voice. She placed Percy slightly behind her but not before sending him a look that clearly said Don't aggravate him. "We won't bother you at all today, we'll just stay in the bedrooms and-"

"Did you say 'we'? I don't think so, Sally, you have to go to work today. You know I'm going on that trip soon, and you wouldn't want me to be short on cash while I'm gone, now would you?"

Before she could answer, Percy piped up. "It's okay Mom, I'll just go to school." He stumbled off towards the direction of his room. He tried to avoid getting too close to the monster, but it didn't work. Gabe still clapped him on the back a little too hard. "About time you manned up." Percy didn't even acknowledge him.

Sally started to follow her son but her husband grabbed her arm. "I'm going to help him find an outfit," she tried to say without her voice shaking, pulling herself away. Gabe just shrugged and went to the fridge.

Sally walked in to see Percy laying on his bed. He sat up when he saw her. "I won't let them know I'm sick, Mom, really I won't, so they won't call home and Gabe won't answer."

She had to turn around so he wouldn't see the tears running down her cheeks. "Let's get you some medicine before you go."

"The blue kind?"

"Of course."

Age 13

Percy was poking at his blue waffles, his head resting in his hand.

"Honey, are you feeling okay?" Sally asked.

"Yeah, Mom, I'm fine." He didn't meet her eyes.

"Are you sure?" She walked up behind him and placed her hand on the back of his neck. He shivered.

"Well..."

"Alright, sick day! You go sit on the couch and I'll get the blankets and water." Percy couldn't help but smile at his mother. He couldn't ever remember being able to have a sick day. But soon his smile faltered.

"But Mom... Tyson. You know he needs me to help him get to school. I'll just go to school and say I'm not feeling well and then I'll hang out in the nurses' office until the end of the day so we can leave together."

Sally kissed her son on the top of his head. It was just like Percy to worry about everyone besides himself. "Why don't we just go invite Tyson to come back here and watch some movies with us?"

Age 15 

Percy was miserable. He'd been laying in bed awake all night, unable to fall asleep thanks to the pounding in his head. Suddenly his stomach felt worse. He rushed to the bathroom, barely making it in time.

Sally and Paul woke up to some not so pleasant sounds.

"Oh, my poor baby," Sally whispered sleepily. She crawled out of bed and made her way towards the noise.  She didn't expect Paul to follow her, so she was a little startled when she heard the footsteps behind her.

"Oh," Paul mumbled when Sally whipped around. "Sorry, if you don't want me to go-"

"No, no!" she exclaimed. "I just- I didn't- I'm not used to..." she stammered. But Paul seemed to understand and grabbed her hand gently. 

The two of them made it to the bathroom just in time to see Percy hurling into the toilet. Sally rubbed his back soothingly while Paul sat next to him.

"I'm sorry," Percy said when he was done, his eyes glassy. "I didn't mean to wake you guys up."

"It's okay," Sally and Paul promised in unison.

"Hey son, I'll stay home with you tomorrow so your mother can go to that writing conference," Paul told Percy.

"Really?" Percy asked with wide eyes. "I mean, you don't have to, I can take care of myself, I'll be fine, " he said quickly.

"Nonsense, no one likes to be alone when they're sick."

Percy looked like he was going to respond but instead leaned over the toilet again.

Even though it was the middle of night and her son was throwing up, Sally couldn't help but smile at her two favorite people.