After school, I did some homework. Dawn was baby-sitting. Later, at Claudia's, my back was starting to bother me.
"Not now," I groaned.
"Are you okay?" asked Kristy.
"My back is bugging me," I said.
"You can sit against my pillow," said Claudia.
That's what I did.
"Thanks, Dr. Kishi," I said as we giggled.
It started to feel a bit better after the meeting. But, when I got home, it was bothering me again.
"Not again," I mumbled.
"Why don't you sit on the recliner?" asked Dawn.
"I was supposed to cook," I said.
"I'll take over while you relax," suggested my sister.
"Sounds good," I agreed.
She was cooking when Dad came home from work.
"Dinner is almost ready," said Dawn.
"I thought Mary Anne was cooking," said Dad.
"My back is in pain," I said. "It happened during the club meeting. Even though it got better at the end, pain came back."
"I told her to relax while I take over," added Dawn.
"Okay," said Dad.
"Do we have anything for that?" I asked.
"We have an Aleve," said Dad.
"I'll take it," I said.
He went to get it and came back with it and water.
"Thanks," I said as I took it.
Later, I was able to have supper at the recliner. After dinner, Dad came to check on me.
"How are you doing?" asked Dad.
"A little sore," I replied. "I think I'll sleep down here. My back is too sore to move."
"I can always help you out, too," said Dad.
"Okay," I said.
"I might bring you to Dr. Wellington to be checked tomorrow," said Dad.
"Sounds good. I'm debating to stay home from school otherwise it will bother me all day," I said.
"I don't blame you for that, honey," said Dad.
Later, I decided to remain on the recliner.
In the middle of the night, it was starting to itch. I could barely sleep.
"Now what?" I asked.
I was scratching to make it better. The next day, my back felt worse.
"How's your back?" asked Dad who was concerned.
"Still sore," I answered. "Plus, it's itching me."
"I'll bring you to the doctor's office. I'll go call him now," said Dad.
He did and my doctor can take me in an hour. We left 30 minutes later. At the office, Dr. Wellington examined me.
"You have poison ivy," said the doctor. "And, I see what's causing it: a tick."
"A tick?" I asked in a surprised tone.
"Yes, I'll go get the tweezers to get it out," said Dr. Wellington as he left the room.
"No wonder I was itchy. I hope Tigger doesn't have any or the chair," I said.
"I know," agreed Dad.
He called Sharon to have her check the chair for ticks.
The doctor came back and tried to get the tick. I was holding on Dad's hand because it was in pain. Apparently, it was too stubborn because it took ten to fifteen minutes. It finally got removed.
"Got it, it was stuck on the poison ivy," said Dr. Wellington. "Do you have cream for that?"
"Yes because Sharon used it on her arm recently," replied Dad.
"Okay. Use the cream until poison ivy disappears," instructed the doctor.
"Mary Anne decided to stay home until her back gets better, she'll have a hard time in school," said Dad.
"I agree with her," said Dr. Wellington.
"She also rests it in the recliner," said Dad.
"Best thing for her, too," said the doctor.
Later, I made an appointment for Tigger with Dr. Sam right away. We picked him up. Luckily, he had no ticks. He was good and didn't move.
At home, Sharon said, "Chair is tick free."
"So is Tigger," I said.
That night, I was resting my back at the recliner.
"I'll excuse you from doing chores and from helping Dawn for now. I'll have her cook, too, just until your back gets better," said Dad.
Unfortunately, my back isn't better yet. Dad had just put poison ivy cream on the poison ivy. I'm glad I decided not to go school- I wanted to wait until my back was completely better. Imagine how hard for me that would be to move around with a sore back? Dad started his vacation week today.
I'm also starting to think that I should stay home from the Baby-Sitters Club meetings as well until my back gets better.
"I'm thinking of staying home from the club meetings until my back gets better," I told my father.
"I think would be a good idea." Dad nodded in agreement.
"I'll tell Dawn that when she gets home from school this afternoon so she can let Kristy know," I added.
I must have fallen asleep in the recliner, because Dad pulled a blanket over me. That was where I remained until Dawn came home from school.
"Don't make too much noise right now. Mary Anne's asleep in the recliner," Dad whispered, letting my stepsister in the door.
"How is she doing?" Dawn asked, concerned.
"Her back is still bothering her a bit. She decided to stay home from the meeting until her back gets better, so when you leave for the meeting let Kristy know about that," replied Dad.
"Okay. I will." Dawn smiled at my dad.
The poison ivy didn't go away until three or four days later- and my back was still hurting me. Luckily, it went away the day after the poison ivy did- thank God! I was so glad about that...