BM (Before Milk)

Alex was sitting on his bed drinking a can of lemon lime soda. He didn't know what it was about the stuff but it made him feel better when he was upset. None of the other band members knew about his soda obsession. Alex's grandmother gave him first taste of lemon lime soda when he was three.

Nat came into the bedroom and said "Al dad wants you to come down stairs so he can talk to you. You ok Alex you seem a little jumpy?"

Alex set his can of soda on the table and went downstairs to talk to his father. Mr. Wolf said "Alex I've received phone calls from three of your teachers. They've all said that you've been unfocused and jittery during the day. Is there something that's bothering you? If there is you can tell me or your brother we're your family."

Alex said "there's nothing bugging me dad. I just need to get more sleep and I'll do better in school I promise."

Mr. Wolf said "I'm glad that you've taken responsibility for your actions. Get some sleep the band has a big concert first thing in the morning. Goodnight boys Nat please make sure he actually goes to sleep. I can't have him being jittery and unfocused on stage or at school."

Nat and Alex went upstairs to bed. Nat tucked Alex in and then climbed into bed himself. Alex snuck into the fridge and grabbed a 24 pack of lemon lime soda. Then he went back into the bed room and drank them. In the morning Nat found Alex sleeping on top of a pile of soda cans.

Nat gently shook Alex and asked "what are these soda cans doing in your bed? They weren't there last night when I went to bed."

Alex said "please don't tell dad. I promise that it won't happen again. I don't know what came over me. I just couldn't control myself."

Nat said "Al how many did you drink? You look sick dad isn't going to let you sing with the band like this."

Alex said "you've gone on stage sick before Nat. All you've done is put makeup on your face so he couldn't see the flush in your cheeks and you put ice under your hat so he couldn't say that you had a fever."

Nat said "Alex this is different. You're drunk on lemon lime soda! I can hide this from dad. I'd be a pretty awful big brother if I did."

Alex said "I've been doing this for at least three years. Ever since grandma let me have my first taste when I scraped my knee I've been addicted to it. It makes me feel better."

Nat said "get back into bed Alex. I'm going to make it look like you're sick. This way dad doesn't find out that you're drunk. He might cancel the concert though so we have to make this look convincing."

Mr. Wolf came upstairs to wake the boys up. When he shook Alex he saw that he was covered in bright red spots. Mr. Wolf grabbed a thermometer and he stuck it under Alex's arm. When he pulled it out Mr. Wolf gasped Alex had a fever of 99.8.

Mr. Wolf called Copper and said "Alex has the chicken pox. Could you take the rest of the band to the concert?

Copper said "yeah I'll take them John but is Nat going?"

Mr. Wolf said "I want Nat to stay home and rest. There's no sense in have both of them being sick. Thank you Copper have any of the others had chicken pocks? I should probably call their parents and ask that. I'm sorry it's just that Amy was still around when Nat had chicken pocks. Thanks Coop I'll have Nat call the rest of the band. What time do you want them to be ready to go?"

Copper said "we're already late so just have them hurry up. It's just an overnight trip so they don't need to pack too much. Have Nat call David first. He lives the closest to my house. I'll pick him up them I'll pick up Qaasim, Tomas, Jesse, and then I'll swing over to check on Alex and then pick up Rosalina. Oh I almost forgot that I need to pick up the music from Nat. We can't do a concert with out music I'm so forgetful sometimes I'd loose my own head if it wasn't attached."

Nat yawned and woke up. He looked at the clock and put his plan into action. He said "dad why didn't you wake me up? We're late is Alex awake?"

Mr. Wolf said "go back to sleep Nat. You and Alex aren't going to the concert."

Nat said "dad I don't understand. Alex and I have worked really hard getting ready for this. Why aren't we allowed to go? You said that if I got my math grade up the concert wouldn't be affected. My grade went from a 60% to a 90% I think I've earned this. Math is hard fore me dad I stayed after school everyday for almost a month so I could raise my grade. Why can't I sing dad?"

Mr. Wolf said "Nat this has nothing to do with grades. Alex has chicken pox and you had such a mild case of them that I don't want you to over work yourself. I want you and Alex to rest. I haven't told Alex yet. I don't him to think that you're not going because he's sick. I want you to know that I'm very proud of you. I know that Math isn't easy for you and that you tried very hard to raise that grade. Now get some sleep Copper is coming to check on Alex and you before he picks up Rosalina."

Mr. Wolf set his hand on Alex's forehead and shook him gently. Alex mumbled "dad are we at the concert?"

Mr. Wolf said "no Alex we're still at home. You have the chicken pox that's why you're not going. Nat isn't feeling well either so he's also staying home. How you feeling Al? Your mom knew what to do for this when Nat had it. I'm afraid that I don't really know anything."

Alex coughed and said "dad I feel awful can I please go back to sleep?"

Mr. Wolf said "let me see how high your fever is first. Them you should at least eat something."

Mr. Wolf stuck the thermometer under Alex's tongue. When he pulled it out he said "Alex I have to get you into a cold shower. Your fever is 104 I have to cool you down."

Alex was confused Nat said that he would have a fever but he felt fine earlier. Now he felt really, really sick and itchy all over.

Mr. Wolf helped Alex into the shower and turned the water to cold. Alex couldn't explain why but he felt that the water was burning. Mr. Wolf asked "Al feel any cooler buddy?"

Alex said "dad can I please get out of here! This water is burning hot!"

Mr. Wolf said "I'm sorry little buddy. I didn't realize that you were that sick. Here let me get you a towel Alex. I want you to dry off and get right back into bed. I'm calling a doctor so he can look at you."

Alex dried off and climbed back into bed. He was drenched in sweat but he was shaking hard. Alex said "Nat what the heck did you do to me? I thought I would just have a slight fever. I'm sick as a dog and I itch like crazy."

Nat yawned and said "I did nothing Alex. I didn't even fill the hot water bottle before dad came into the room."

Alex lifted the back of his shirt and showed Nat his spots. Nat said "dad is actually right you do have chicken pocks. I'm sorry little bro I know how that feels. You ache all over and on top of that you sweat because of a fever and then you itch. Mom taught me a way to stop the itching without covering yourself with lotion."

Alex said "great show me before I ask Lucky to scratch my back."

Nat sighed and said "I'm going back to bed. I can barley breath. Go ask dad to put lotion on your back."

Nat woke up an hour later hearing Lucky barking. He rolled over to tell her to shut up when he saw Alex hold her and using her nails to scratch his back. Nat grabbed Lucky and then held Alex's arms down. His father came into the room and asked "what the heck is going on? Nat get back into bed Alex lie down. I'll check on you later."

After their father left the room Nat said "whatever you do don't scratch. That'll cause scaring once you get better. Here's what mom taught me first you close you eyes. Then you picture the face of someone you love gently rubbing your back every time you want to scratch."

Alex closed his eyes and said "can I tell you who I see?"

Nat said "if it'll help the itching go away faster."

Alex said "please don't yell at me but I see you."

Nat said "you little stinker you just want me to scratch your back. I played the same trick on mom. I really saw Rosalina. she came over when I was still really sick and she climbed up beside me and really rubbed my back right where it itched. Oh my god that girl has magic fingers."

Alex said "alright I really see Jesse. Can you please just get the lotion? I can't wait any longer."

Nat said "dad didn't put lotion on you right when he looked at your back. Sometimes he has no since I know where he keeps it Al."

Nat left the room and grabbed the lotion bottle out of the closet. He walked back into the room and applied some to his brothers back. Alex sighed and said "I wish mom was still here. Dad said she took really good care of you when you had it."

Nat said "Al lie still please. I'm trying to get that stupid tiny space on your neck. Mom is still here taking care of you. You just can't see her. Alex said "thanks for rubbing lotion on my back. I think I'm going to get some sleep."

Nat tucked his brother in and set the lotion beside the bed. Then he went to talk to his father. Nat found his father sitting in a chair in the living room. Nat said "dad Alex has another problem. He's addicted to lemon lime sodas in addition to having the chicken pocks. When I got up this morning I found him sleeping on 24 soda cans."

Mr. Wolf said "Nat are you sure that those were his cans. If they're then this is serious. I can't have a drunk in the band. I'm sure that you being the leader and my son you support this."

Nat said "no dad I think that Al needs help. If he goes to a support group like what the have for alcoholics I think he could stop. I think he wants to stop dad please give him a chance."

Mr. Wolf said "alright Nat I'll give him one chance. You ok son you look a little flushed?"

Mr. Wolf touched Nat's forehead and said "you're burning up. I want you to go lie down and get some sleep. What did you're mother feed you when you had chicken pocks? Alex needs to eat something."

Nat said "mom made me this special soup. It helped my throat and I was able eat more foods afterwards."

Alex called from the bedroom "Nat my head and back hurt. Can you rub my back?"

Mr. Wolf said "Al I'll call Jesse the band can deal without her for one day. Nat go to bed and stay away from your brother. I don't need you getting the chicken pocks to."

Nat went into the bedroom and lied down. He was freezing but his pillow quickly became drenched in sweat. He couldn't get comfortable and he ached all over. Jesse came over an hour later and said "oh you poor pitiful things. Here let me get you a softer pillow Alex. Nat you're drenched in sweat you're going to give yourself a chill. I'll get you some dry Pajamas. Have you guys eaten at all today?"

Nat couldn't speak because his throat hurt. Alex said "no we haven't dad has pretty much had us sleeping all day. Nat was fine earlier but now he has a fever and can't talk."

Jesse said "Nat looks like he has the flue. I'm more worried about you Alex. The chicken pocks is much more irritating than the flue."

Nat ran to the bathroom and threw up. Jesse didn't pay any attention she just sat next to Alex and rubbed his back. Nat finished vomiting and then climbed back into bed. Alex said "Jesse Nat needs help. He just puked and it's all over him."

Jesse tossed Nat a clean pair of pajamas. Then she said "Nat you can take care of yourself right. I have to stay with Alex he needs me."

Mr. Wolf came to check on Nat and Alex and heard Nat vomiting. Mr. Wolf said "Nat I want you to sit on the couch for awhile ok. Do you need a clean pair of pajamas?"

Nat came out of the bathroom and nodded. Mr. Wolf said "I think you've got more than a little fever. I think you have the flue Nat. That means that you won't be singing for a while. I'll carry you downstairs don't move ok."

Mr. Wolf carried Nat downstairs and laid him on the couch. Then Mr. Wolf set Nat's head in his lap. He ran his hand over Nat's sweaty brow and then said "Nat I'm going to get a damp cloth for your head. I'll be right back ok Nat."

Nat nodded and closed his eyes. Then the doorbell rang Mr. Wolf answered the door and Rosalina ran to Nat's side. She gently touched his cheek and said "oh my baby's sick. I'm here Nat I'm here."

Nat tried to speak but he only coughed. Rosalina sighed and said "I'm not going to leave you. Hush don't try to talk Nat. Oh god your breath smells like vomit. Please have a breath mint. I love you but I can't stand the smell of puke!"

Mr. Wolf said "Rosalina I don't want to sound rude but Nat has the flue. I don't want you to get sick. I'll drive you over to the concert after Nat's stomach settles down and I won't have to feel guilty about leaving him."

Rosalina said "Mr. Wolf I don't want to leave Nat. I was with him when he had chicken pocks. That's how I got such a bad case of it. I don't want to leave him now."

Nat squeezed Rosalina's hand and pulled her back on the couch. Mr. Wolf said "alright you can stay but still keep your distance. I don't need three people that need cared for in my house."