Winter Season

Two boosters please

She was a little concerned that the health department wouldn’t be able to work her in but they did. No one was there.

As they sat in the empty waiting room, Oscar noticed the confused look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“No one’s here.” She pointed around. “Is it because it’s cold?”

He gave a light chuckle, “um no. The government is evil. Covid is fake. The vaccine will cause you to sprout 3 horns. Once you take the first shot, you’ll be dead in 5 years.” Esther raised an eyebrow. “The way I see it, I’ve got 2 more years to live.” He added.

“What?”

“My family believes all of that. I’m a horrible person because I wanted to follow all the Covid precautions including getting vaccinated. My family is the polar opposite.” He sighed, “sadly, more people than not believe as my family does.”

His hand was laying on the armrest of the chair. She laid her hand on top of his. “I’m sorry.” He laced his fingers through hers. “I was the first one in line when they became available. A lot of people say it’s like having the flu. I don’t want that either. Once in the past 10,” she thought. “Yes, 10 years I was diagnosed with the flu. I was so sick I couldn’t make it from the couch to the bathroom without feeling like I was going to pass out because I couldn’t catch my breath.”

They called his name. He kissed the top of her hand as he got up.

When they returned home , both changed and set to cleaning. Suddenly she rose up, “you said errands. We only went to get the booster. Did I knock you out of doing something else?”

“Heavens no. It was much more fun,” he raised an eyebrow, “getting poked with you.”

“Booger.” She teased.

Oscar was cleaning in the kitchen and Esther in the little bedroom. He hadn’t heard her in a while, “Ess.” He called but got no answer. “Ess?” He found her curled up in the middle of the floor. “Ess?”

“Tired.”

She woke on his couch. The fire place crackling behind her. Bell was sitting in one of the overstuffed recliners reading. “Hi there. Oscar went to town to get some things. I changed your clothes. Oscar has probably told you by now that I work at the nursing home.”

Esther was so tired she couldn’t speak.

“Oscar told me you two got your Covid booster yesterday and this is what happens to you every time.”

Esther just watched her.

“I take it this is your book? I don’t think Oscar is going to need to know how to cope through female menopause. Good book.” She closed it. “Oscar seems to really like you. I know you’ve only been here a week but you’ve been like an injection of life for him. And between me and you, I hope you..” She pursed her lips. “His family… Horrible people. I know.” She raised a hand, “as a Christian I shouldn’t feel that way. That’s why he’s God and I’m not.” She paused. It was as if she was speaking to herself and not Esther, “Oscar is such a good person.”

Esther fell back to sleep.

She woke to Oscar was holding her. She could hear his heart beating. “Hi there, you need to drink something.” She tried but didn’t get much down.

She woke up with a big stretch. “Hi there.”

“Hi.” He was all smiles.

“What day is it?”

“Monday.”

It took a minute for that to sink in, “Monday. What time?” She asked panicked.

“Noon, why?”

“Have you just ran home on your lunch break?”

“No.”

“No, you missed a day of work because of me?”

He sat with her on the couch. “Why do you seem so surprised?”

“I mean. You didn’t have to. You….”

He took her hands. “I wasn’t going to leave you here alone.”

How could he have done this? Why did he do it? Miss a day of work because of her. She had it, he was afraid she would wake up while he was gone and rob him blind. That had to be it. Right?

“Was Bell here?” She asked instead.

“Yes, I went to town to get stuff I was hoping you could eat and drink. Are you hungry?”

“Yes,” she blushed.

“Then let me feed you.” In the kitchen there was a single daisy on the table. “For you.”

“Me?”

“Saturday made one week since you’ve been here.”

“Thank you. That is so very sweet.”

Winter Season