I still felt like death.  Truly.  There'd been a couple kids at my school who had gotten mono at some point.  I always thought they were being babies about it, but I was completely drained.  My body ached, I had headaches, and worst of all I slept constantly.   I liked my sleep like any teenager, but I also liked to get things done.  Why sleep nine hours a night, when I could get in 6 or 7 and have two more hours to get more work accomplished?

I wasn't a dishonest kid, but I'd admittedly pulled the wool over Dad's eyes on this one.  I'd tell him goodnight and then go to my room and study for hours more.  I was heavy with the concealer under my eyes.  The 5-Hour Energy did wonders for my demeanor.  I was anxious as hell, but I was awake and productive.

The second day I was home from school with mono, I sat on my bed trying to get work done and ended up falling asleep.  It was so frustrating trying to get things done.  I awoke with a startle – Alex screaming and running through the house.

"Alex!" I heard my dad try to whisper-yell at her.  I could hear him chasing after her as she screeched.  I sat up, my head pounding again.  Dad must have covered me up because I had a blanket over me.  I swung my legs over the bed, went to the restroom, then out to the kitchen to find some more meds.  Alex was still screaming.  Nothing was wrong.  She was just joyous and apparently that's how she expressed it.

I found the Tylenol and filled a glass of water as Dad tried to calm her down.  Soon, Jack was screaming from down the hallway where he'd been napping.

"Dammit!" I rubbed at my temples.

"Sorry, sweetheart," Dad told me.  "I'm gonna take them to the park so you can get some peace."

He'd been pulling shoes onto Alex's feet, and he set her down on the ground.  "Indoor voices, Alex," he reminded her gently.  "Joey has a headache."

He rushed down the hallway to get Jack.  A few minutes later he was quiet and finally Alex had quick screaming.  She'd found a doll on the floor and was force feeding it a bottle.  She pounded its head.

I swallowed my pills with a bunch of water, then wandered back towards my room.  Dad was coming out of the bedroom with a still slightly cranky Jack.  "Sorry," he told me, pressing a quick kiss to my head.  "Go back to sleep."

I gladly did, wanting to do nothing more than hibernate until this virus had past.  The really frustrating part was that no one knew how long it would last.  I had stuff to get done.  I didn't have time for this.  Soon, I was back in dreamland.

When I woke up again, it was dark out.  My head and whole body hurt again.  I slowly sat up, groaning and went to the door.  My bladder was completely full so I shuffled to the bathroom, which was luckily free.  After peeing, I quietly opened the door.  I thought I'd heard Dad and Pippa talking in the kitchen.

"I think that's reasonable," I heard Pippa say.  "The first week or so will be the hardest, I'm sure.  She needs peace and quiet to start to recover."

"I just don't want to mess up any progress they're making," Dad said.  "They've been doing so great.  If they get out of their routine and they're with someone else, it might throw them off."

"It's their grandparents though," Pippa said.  "They'd love to spend time with Alex and Jack."

I realized they were talking about sending Alex and Jack away for a few days with their grandparents.  Because of me.  I felt a little guilty that I would be causing this.  They could be loud sometimes, I had to admit.  Having a quiet house for a few days would be nice.  It was crazy how just a few months ago it had been just Dad and me.  Now I was kind of used to a full, noisy house.

"Yeah, I'm sure they would," Dad said.  "Should I call them up?"

Elliott's bedroom door open and he saw me standing there.  I cleared my throat and stepped out to go to the kitchen.  I was starving.  As Dad made the call to Alex and Jack's grandparents, Pippa noticed me wander out.

"Joey!" she smiled at me.  "Our sleeping beauty.  You hungry?"

"Starving," I admitted as she stood up to walk over. 

"Let me heat you up something," she told me.  "Sit down.  What do you feel like?"

I sat at the kitchen bar and thought for a moment.  "Maybe some spaghetti?"

She smirked and nodded, knowing it was one of my favorites.  "Coming right up."

Elliott wandered out, stretching his arms above his head, yawning.  I still felt a bit badly that I'd hurt him.  I'd tried to be as gentle as I could about it.  Things had just gotten really intense, and school had gotten crazy.  Maybe during the summer things would calm down and we could get back together.

"Are you guys...sending Alex and Jack away?" I asked cautiously as she filled a pot with water.  She looked at me, surprised that I knew.

"Uhh...yeah," she said.  "Did you overhear that?"

"I was coming out of the bathroom," I said.  "You guys don't have to do that.  I'll be better soon."

"Well when you're feeling lousy the last thing you need is a screaming toddler," she countered, setting the pot on the stove.  She covered it and turned the burner on.  "Their grandparents would love the time with them, honestly.  It would be nice to have a little break, too."

I'd seen the way Dad and Pippa had to chase those two around.  They were sweet kids but they were a lot of work.  I decided a few days without them would be okay after all.

Dad finished up the phone call and walked over to where we all were gathered.  "That's taken care of," Dad told Pippa, unaware that Elliott and I both already knew.

"Great," she said.  "Elliott and Joey think it'll be a good thing too."

Dad looked at me and rubbed at my upper back.  "We've gotta get this one healthy again.  So she can take over the world."

I grinned as he kissed the top of my head.  "Whew!  Someone needs a bath."

"I am not that bad," I countered, laughing.

"Just teasing," he said.  "I'll put your sheets in the wash too.  Fresh sheets always feel good."

He disappeared to take care of my bed.  It was nice to get taken care of every once in a while.  I was pretty independent, but I was still a kid.

Soon, the spaghetti was ready.  I ate ravenously and finished the whole plate.  Pippa found me some ice cream in the freezer for dessert.  I ate gratefully while Dad drew me a bath and made my bed with my spare set of sheets.

A few minutes later, I was easing my achy body into the bubbles.  I let out an audible happy sigh as my muscles began to relax.  I stayed in there for a long time.  Long enough for my fingers to get pruny and the water to cool quite a bit.

After my long soak, I pulled the plug and dried off.  I grabbed my fresh set of pajamas and pulled them on, then went to my bedroom to relax some more.  My muscles were feeling better, but my upper back still ached.

Pippa knocked on my bedroom door and I told her to come in.  She observed me working at my upper back, trying to get out the kinks.

"Still achy?" she asked sympathetically.

"A little," I admitted.  She grabbed my lotion from the top of my desk and crossed the room, sitting behind me on the bed. 

"Here, let me help," she offered.  I let my head fall forward as Pippa worked some lotion into her hands, then began to work it into my skin.  I closed my eyes and let out a sigh as she worked at my muscles.

My mom used to do this when I was a little kid.  I had long since not allowed it, not feeling close to my mother.  With Pippa, somehow it felt okay.  Pippa was definitely making my dad super happy.  She was awesome with the little kids and she listened to me.  Really listened to me without judging like my mom would.

Pippa worked at my upper back for a good ten minutes and I could feel myself getting sleepy.  "Any better?"

"Yeah," I said happily but tiredly.  She gave my shoulder a squeeze as I turned and laid down on my tummy.  I closed my eyes as she gently rubbed circles on my back.  It was nice to be taken care of.  I heard Dad come to the door and step inside.  I opened my eyes and saw him standing there, hands in his pockets.

"You're getting the royal treatment," he commented, giving me a smirk.

"Pippa's the best," I told him, smiling, but then yawned.

"That she is," he agreed as Pippa stood up.

"Night, Joey," she told me as she walked to my dad and gave him a quick kiss.  I told her goodnight as she left and Dad sat down in her place.

"You look relaxed," He commented, turning his head so his eyes were level with mine.  I just nodded and yawned again.  "Just keep sleeping.  I called your school today and they're excusing all your work for this week."

That was a relief.  Dad kissed my temple and then pulled my sheets up over my shoulders.  "Sleep tight.  Love you."

"Love you too," I told him as he got up to turn off the light.  I looked at the clock.  8:45.  I hadn't gone to bed this early in years, but it was okay.