The next day I wake with a headache and a fever. I spend the morning in bed, and at lunchtime William and Zoe bring me up a tray: a bowl of chicken noodle soup, a glass of ice water, and the mail: an envelope and
I sniff the soup. “Mmmm.”
“Imperial Tea Court,” William says.
I pop a noodle into my mouth. “You drove to Imperial Tea Court? In Berkeley?”
He shrugs. “They make the best noodles. Besides, my days of bringing you noodles in the middle of the day are numbered.”
“What are you talking about?” asks Zoe.
“Nothing,” I say.
We haven’t told the children about William’s job offer yet. I know they’ve been worried and will be very relieved to hear he’s employed again, but I don’t want to say anything to them until we’ve made a firm decision. William and I glance at each other.
“Obviously not nothing,” says Zoe.
Jampo comes running into the room and leaps on the bed.
William snatches him up. “You’re not allowed up there. How about a run, you monster?” Jampo stares at him aggressively like he’s a terrorist and then suddenly licks his face. William’s really been making an effort with Jampo. Are they friends now?
“We need to have a discussion about
“Can you give me a ride to Jude’s before your run, Dad?” asks Zoe.
Jude and Zoe are officially a couple again. The day after we caught the mouse, I heard Zoe on the phone with Jude, crying and apologizing. That night he came over for dinner and the two of them held hands under the table. It was so sweet and felt so right it stopped my heart.
“I guess so. Caroline and I have to talk to Nedra about the cake, anyway. Alice, are you two speaking yet?”
“I’m about to send her a smoke signal,” I say.
“The wedding is in two weeks. Perhaps you should light the fire now.”
After lunch I take another nap, and when I wake I swallow three more Advil. I can’t seem to shake this headache. Everything aches. Even my rib cage. I listen for noises from downstairs but it’s quiet. Nobody’s home but me. I log on, but there’s nothing from Researcher 101: no email and no Facebook messages. I’m almost relieved that’s the case. I finish off the noodles. I rifle through
A door slams downstairs and a few seconds later, I hear laughter. I lie there in bed, stunned. Why didn’t I see this coming? I should have known something was up when I saw Mrs. Norman at Berkeley Rep. Clearly this was already in the works. She was so smug and her husband so apologetic; she most likely spearheaded my termination.
When William clomps up the stairs in his sneakers, I pretend to be asleep. He walks to the side of the bed and I can feel his eyes on my face. He gently touches the back of his hand to my forehead to see if I’m hot.
“You’re a bad faker,” he says.
“I’ve been fired,” I whisper.
I hear the rustle of paper as he reads the letter. “Fuck them,” he says.
“It hurts,” I whimper.
William puts his hand on mine. “I know, Alice.”
I’m sick for the next three days.
“It’s a summer flu,” says Bunny. “You just have to let it run its course.”
Every morning, I get up thinking it will have passed. I go downstairs, pour myself a cup of coffee, feel nauseous at the smell of it, and go back upstairs.
“She’s a very bad patient,” says Jack.
“The worst,” says William.
“Am I not sighing enough?” I ask.
“No. You’re not moaning enough, either,” says William.
“We need to talk,” I say. “About
“When you’re feeling better.”
I watch bad TV. I spend a lot of time online.
KED3 (Kentwood Elementary Third Grade Drama Parents’ Forum) Digest #134
1. I’m starting a
2. RE: I’m starting a
3. RE: I’m starting a
4. RE: I’m starting a
5. RE: I’m starting a
