Pulse of Heroes by A.Jacob Sweeny Page B

after all I’ve done.”
She was looking down at the floor in embarrassment. Her mom assured
her that all would be taken care of, and that in the bigger picture
of life, if she had to repeat a class or attend summer school
neither one of those things would mark her or blemish her future.
Her mom gave her another Tylenol to reduce the fever and placed a
wet towel on her forehead, then sat by her side until Michelle was
asleep again.
     
    When Michelle woke up, she could hardly
muster a sound out of her parched and painful throat. Her mom was
worried that she had caught strep throat; after all, it was the
season for colds and flues. Michelle couldn’t believe her luck, and
wondered if God or some other magical being had answered her
prayers and caused her to fall sick, just so she could avoid her
midterm. She knew that it was just a silly thought, but nonetheless
she felt relieved, even if her sore throat was still begging for
it’s own type of relief.
    By the time Michelle asked about school, her
mom had already made the proper phone calls and told her that she
was not the only sick kid that had called in that morning. Some
unlucky ones got it so bad that they had been forced to cancel all
the arrangements they had made for the formal that evening. “At
least you didn’t have to cancel anything or call a date to tell
them you couldn’t go.” Her mom continued, “Can you imagine the
disappointment that a date would feel getting such a call, and
could the parents get their money back for the limousine service
and…”
    Michelle couldn’t take it anymore. “Mom!” she
yelled, her poor throat trying to hold on to any vocal cord that
was still working. “Why don’t you rub some salt on it too?”
    Her mom looked a little hurt, but then
realized why she was upsetting Michelle so. She apologized and
Michelle accepted. Then her mom smiled at her and joked, “You know,
gargling with salt is not such a bad idea.” They both laughed.
     
    The doctor visit was miserable as usual. They
got there early, only to wait with many other sneezing and whizzing
patients, both young and old. While looking at a toddler who
miserably fought to breathe out of his snotty nose, Michelle
thought that even if you weren’t sick when you went to the doctor,
you sure weren’t going to leave the office healthy. When they were
finally called in, Doctor Hudson did the routine check up and took
a throat culture to test for strep. She would have the results
tomorrow. Meanwhile she prescribed Michelle a cough elixir with
codeine and a week’s worth of antibiotics, to take only if the test
came out positive. Otherwise, it was the standard ‘rest, drink
fluids, and take a fever reducer when necessary’.
     
    Since they were already out and it was only
10:30 AM, Michelle’s mother asked her if she felt well enough to go
the mall with her. If not, she would drop her off at home first,
then head back out. Although Michelle didn’t feel all that well,
she enjoyed being with her mom, especially as she was doting over
her like a mama cat over a crying kitten. Nope, she definitely
didn’t want to stay home alone. They headed towards the mall in
Napa, which was buzzing with people and activity. It was several
days before Christmas and everyone was in a panic to buy the last
few gifts. Michelle enjoyed all the excitement. The stores were
covered with Christmas lights and decorations, and everywhere she
looked the displays of goods looked better then ever. The usual
Christmas music that they played over the sound system suddenly
sounded like it belonged. When they had first begun playing the
Christmas tunes it was in mid-October and she couldn’t stand them,
in fact they drove her crazy, and yet there she was suddenly
humming along to them.
    Michelle’s mom had to return something at one
of the big department stores. Up the escalators they rode to the
second floor, when Michelle became a bit dizzy. The line for the
returns window was so long that