Leslie at Home (boring subject, I know :D)

[NarnianMelody]

Slumped on the couch and gazing miserably at the blank sheet of paper in front of her, Leslie tried hard to think of an essay she could satisfy her teacher with that would earn her a decent grade. She looked out the window toward Jess's house. She wasn't even allowed to go near him, he was so sick.
Yesterday she had tried to cross the bridge into Terabithia but without its king Terabithia lacked everything it was when Leslie and Jess were together.
After a couple more minutes of looking out the window she heard someone shuffling around in the kitchen. "Dad?" she called out.

[Bill Burke]

"Yes, honey?" her father replied.

[NarnianMelody]

"Did you ever have step throat?" Leslie asked him, thinking of Jess. "And if you did, how long did it take for you to get better?"

[Bill Burke]

"I've had it a few times," her father replied as he stepped in the doorway to the living room. "It's always nasty and you have to be on antibiotics for up to a couple of weeks. Usually you're still infectious most of that time, so the doctor's probably right in not letting you in to see him. I wouldn't take it personally, especially from Jess. I remember one time a couple of years before you were born, I had it so bad I couldn't talk and I couldn't even drink water without it hurting too much to swallow so I couldn't get enough fluids in me to get better. The throat specialist had to get the pharmacy to concoct this special formula medicine to anesthetize my throat just so I could drink water. It can be nasty!"

(OOC note: I really did go through that once!-- Mad Tom)

[NarnianMelody]

Leslie listened to her father in horror. "Do you think...do you think Jess will be okay?" she asked, voice trembling slightly.

(OOC note: That must have been awful, MadTom! I went through something like that but it wasn't nearly as bad... )

[Bill Burke]

"I wouldn't worry about him TOO much, Honey." her father smiled. "I think he'll be okay if he gets his rest and his medicines. Maybe you could call over there. If he can't talk, at least he'll be glad to hear your voice. Or if they can't put him on the phone, I'm sure his mom would be glad to let him know you're thinking of him." He stepped over and gave Leslie a soothing hug.

[NarnianMelody]

Leslie tried to smile. "Thanks, Daddy."

[Bill Burke]

"Try not to worry too much, Sweetheart!" he smiled. "Just be there for him and let him know that you are. I'm sure his mom will be glad to hear from you too, and to know you're there."

[NarnianMelody]

Leslie felt a true grin wash over her face at his words. "I'm going to call him now," she declared and rushed out of the room toward the phone.

[Dorian Waldron]

[END THREAD]