Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

“Nope, I’m gonna ride it out.” I shivered and pulled my robe

tighter around my body. “My throat feels like it’s on fire. Be

a friend and hit me over the head with something. I wanna be

unconscious.”

“Shannon,” Marvin said. No honey or baby. He was all

business. “I can’t leave you like this.”

“Can I have some juice? It hurts to talk, and I think you’re

gonna make me argue,” I said miserably.

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Robin Alexander

Marvin poured me a glass of juice and pushed it into my

hands. “I’ll be back in a flash.”

He took off before I could ask where he was going. I drank the

juice and winced when it hit the back of my throat. I was lying on

the sofa trying to remember the last time I took Tylenol and if the

Valium I still had left would send me into orbit. Hailey appeared

like a dream, except she was wearing a mask like Marvin’s.

“We’re going for a ride,” Marvin said cheerfully. “What are

you wearing under that robe?”

“Nothing and no.” I shook my head and wanted to cry from

the pain it caused.

Hailey pressed the back of her hand to my forehead. “Oh, yes,

you are. Come with me.” I was too weak to put up a fight and let

her pull me up with a whimper. “We’ll be back in a minute,” she

said to Marvin as she steered me to the bedroom.

Hailey sat me on the bed as she fished out clothes from my

file cabinet-slash-dresser. She laid a pair of underwear and sweats

on the bed next to me. “As much as I’d like to see you naked,” she

began with a smile, “I will do my best to preserve your dignity.

You turn your back to me and dress and I’ll steady you.”

The trip to the bedroom wore me out. I stood wearily and

pulled on my underwear and pants. Hailey slipped my robe off

my shoulders. The feel of her hands grazing my back added to my

fever, and if I hadn’t felt like someone dropped a blow torch down

my throat, I might’ve swooned. She helped me into my shirt and

called for Marvin.

“I’m going to need your help. She’s swaying all over the

place.” I felt them hanging a coat over my shoulders and leading

me to the door. They stood on either side of me in the elevator

holding me up. I think I may’ve fallen asleep because the next

thing I noticed was Marvin sitting in the backseat of Hailey’s

SUV as she pulled out of the garage.

“Hospital or doc in a box?” Hailey looked at Marvin in the

rearview.

“There’s an after-hours clinic two blocks down on the right.”

Marvin looked at me. “She’s looking kind of green. Let’s try there

first.”

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Pitifully Ugly

Marvin knew half of the people in the waiting room. He

sauntered around in his mask like he was at a social while I

leaned heavily against Hailey. She stroked my hair and back as

we watched Marvin flirt with some guy who looked as bad as I

did. When my name was called, Hailey went back with me. I was

too sick to protest.

The first thing I did after they weighed me was throw up. My

eyes teared partly from embarrassment but more from the pain.

That was actually a good thing because someone came in minutes

later and jabbed me in the throat with a swab. I had nothing left

in my stomach, but I did gag like a cat with a hairball long after

the nurse left the room. All the while Hailey petted and stroked,

whispering words of comfort. Despite all the embarrassment, I

was glad she was there.

After my blood pressure and temperature had been taken, a

doctor whisked into the room. He bent sideways and smiled at me

cheerily. “I have good news and bad news,” he said as he stuck

something in one of my ears, then the other. “You don’t have the

flu, but you do have a nasty case of strep.”

“Yippee,” I said with as much enthusiasm as I could.

“Will you be taking care of her?” he asked Hailey.

“Yes,” she said without hesitation.

I listened as he explained the antibiotics that I assured him I

wasn’t allergic to. My entire body stiffened as he explained next

that they were going to give me a shot for the nausea. My eyes

had to be the size of saucers as he patted my shoulder, wished me

well, and walked out.

“What is it, honey?” Hailey looked down at me with

concern.

“Did he say shot?”

Hailey smiled behind her mask. “It’s either that or a

suppository.”

“Okay, shot.”

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Robin Alexander

The ride home went by in a blur. I was barely awake as

they half dragged me back into my apartment. I had a vague

recollection of Fuzzy circling my bed with a mask on her head

before I slipped off into merciful oblivion.

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Pitifully Ugly

Chapter 25

Breakfast and Hailey in bed.

My phone rang once before I heard Hailey answer it. She was

close by and talking softly.

“I heard her cell phone ringing, but I didn’t feel right

answering it.” Pause. “She’s okay, but she has a bad case of strep.”

Pause. “Yes, Marvin and I took her to the doctor last night. She’s

on antibiotics and is still sleeping off the nausea medicine.” Long

pause. “I took off from work. I’ll be with her as long as she needs

me.” Another long pause. “I know she would do it for me. It’s no

problem, really.” Pause. “I will, I promise.”

“Kalen?” I opened one eye and looked at Hailey as she put

the phone down.

“Sorry, I tried to get it before it woke you. I guess that’s good

in a way. It’s time for you to eat and take your meds.”

“You took off work,” I croaked out.

“Don’t worry about that.” Hailey put her hand on my forehead.

She was still wearing the same clothes she had on the night before.

She looked worn out.

“Stayed here all night?”

“Uh-huh.” Her tired eyes twinkled. “After you eat and take

your meds, I’m going to borrow your shower if that’s all right.”

“Make yourself at home. Is that Grease I hear?”

Hailey smiled back at me as she walked toward the door.

“Yep, is it too loud? I can have Fuzzy turn it down.”

I smiled weakly and shook my head.

Hailey returned five minutes later with buttered toast, juice,

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Robin Alexander

and a banana. “Have you eaten?” I asked as she set a tray over

my lap.

She patted the tray. “Brought this from home. I like to eat

breakfast in bed and watch TV on lazy mornings. And yes, I have

eaten.”

“Thank you.” I nibbled on a piece of toast as she watched me.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you and Marvin have

done for me.”

“You should’ve called me.” Hailey handed me the juice and

waited for me to take a sip. “I had no idea you were so sick.”

“Thought I could tough it out.”

“Marvin bought you Popsicles and sherbet last night when he

went to the pharmacy. Although, I wouldn’t suggest trying that

until we see if you can hold breakfast down.”

I managed to eat the two pieces of toast and half the banana.

Hailey gave me the pills I was supposed to take and went off to

take a shower. As soon as the bathroom door closed, I heard the

ticking of nails on the floor beside my bed. Fuzzy looked up at

me with a dog smile.

I patted the bed. “Wanna come up here and—” She was on

the bed curled up next to me before I could finish the sentence. I