Episode 3: Green in the Gills

It was seven in the morning when Jerry strolled out of his mousehole and stretched to wake himself. He noticed Tom was still asleep in his basket and Robyn was in her bed, all cozy and warm. Jerry grinned and decided to wake Tom first so they could both hug Robyn and wish her a good morning. He patted Tom's fuzzy cheek, which stirred the cat so he woke, and then Tom picked up Jerry and nuzzled his little face.

"Good morning, little buddy," said Tom with a smile. "Hope you're ready for another day of fun and games while Robyn's at school."

"You bet, Tom," replied Jerry. "Let's see if Robyn's awake yet."

With that, Tom and Jerry hopped up on Robyn's bed and said in a singsong manner, "Good morning, Robyn."

To the surprise of the cat and mouse duo, Robyn moaned and then turned over to greet them, and Tom and Jerry were surprised to see that their young owner didn't look like the happy-go-lucky little girl they knew. She was pale in the face and sweat was beading on her forehead.

"Robyn, are you all right?" asked Jerry.

"I don't think so, Jerry," Robyn said in a croaking voice followed by a harsh cough. "I was coughing like this last night."

Tom and Jerry felt their young owner's forehead together, and then Tom said, "Wow! Your forehead is warm, Robyn. Feels like you've got a fever."

The conversation alerted Robyn's father, who had not yet left for work. He entered the room and found his pretty little daughter laid up with Tom holding a cup of water and Jerry running a wet cloth over Robyn's brow. He sat on Robyn's bed and said gently, "Good morning, Robyn. Are you all right?"

"Not really, Daddy," Robyn said hoarsely. "I woke up like this."

Mr. Starling nodded and asked, "You do look rather pale, honey. I'd better call your pediatrician."

He did so, and in a short while, a house appointment was made for Robyn. Tom and Jerry stayed by Robyn's side as did her father, and then her pediatrician, Dr. Belson arrived to look her over. He felt Robyn's forehead and listened to her breathing and her heartbeat. In a few minutes, he had the diagnosis.

"It's nothing serious, Robyn," declared Dr. Belson. "You've just come down with a little flu. It should pass within a week or so."

Robyn's father paid the doctor handsomely for his service, and after Dr. Belson left, Robyn was engulfed in a hug from Tom and Jerry and her father. When they parted, Tom and Jerry were looking sympathetically at Robyn as she lay in her bed. She said, "Daddy, I know you have to go to work…"

Mr. Starling kissed his little girl's hot forehead and replied, "Honey, you're my biggest priority right now. I'll let the board of directors handle the business at Starling Industries for today."

Robyn's eyes widened. "You mean… you'll be at home today?"

"Yes, Robyn," her father replied. "I need to be home today to make sure you get well soon."

He turned to Tom and Jerry and said, "You can keep Robyn company, can't you, boys?"

The cat and mouse duo nodded and said in unison, "We'll stay right by her, Mr. Starling, sir!"

Mr. Starling smiled and replied, "Very good, boys." Then he said to Robyn, "I'll be right here if you need anything at all, sweetie. Just call if you need me."

He hugged Robyn and then left the room to let her rest a little. Robyn lay back on her bed and sighed, "I wish I had something to do since I'm staying home from school. It's no fun being sick."

Jerry patted Robyn's hand and said, "No worries, Robyn. You've got a ton of neat stuff up in your room. Plus, there's a TV here as well as in the family room, so you're all set."

"We'll bring you food if you need it, too," grinned Tom.

Robyn coughed, but followed it with a little giggle as she hugged her pets and thanked them for their kindness. Then she reached under her pillow and pulled out her favorite doll. Tom brought a platter of cheese and crackers from the kitchen and Jerry fetched The Parent Trap from Robyn's movie collection.

The three friends shared the snacks and enjoyed the movie, and when lunch came, Tom volunteered to bring Robyn some food while Jerry stayed to keep her company. When Tom returned to the room with a bowl of warm tomato soup, Jerry was sitting in Robyn's hands and telling her about some of the crazy adventures he and Tom had been on before they met her. When he had finished telling her about when he made Tom think he had measles, Robyn laughed and said, "I'll bet Tom went crazy on you after you two got well again."

The gray cat chuckled, "Not really, Robyn. I just chased him around the house so I could rant and rave for a bit for him tricking me. But that's all water under the bridge, thanks to you."

Tom spoon-fed Robyn her soup and then brought her a juice box to finish off her meal. When the lunch was finished, Jerry fetched a book for Robyn and sat on her shoulder while Tom curled up in her lap. Eventually, the blonde girl was feeling rested enough to walk down to the kitchen herself for a drink of water. Her father was in the kitchen himself at the moment looking over the news when Robyn came down with a glass in her hand.

"Hi, sweetie," said her father. "How are you feeling?"

"A little worn-out, but I'm not coughing too much," replied Robyn. She poured some water into her glass, and while she drank, Mr. Starling felt her father's hand on her forehead.

"Your fever is going down, Robyn," he said to her. "I think you'll be well enough to go back to school in a day or two."

Tom and Jerry had followed Robyn from her room to make sure she would be all right leaving her bed as she was sick. But how glad they were that Robyn wouldn't be stuck at home for longer than two or three days. Tom leapt into Robyn's arms and gave her kisses all over her little cheeks, and Jerry cheered, "All right! You're getting better already, Robyn! This is great!"

And with that, the cat and mouse duo spent the evening watching another film in the family room with Robyn and her father. Robyn was wrapped up in the warmest blanket her father could find, and Tom and Jerry kept by her side. In spite of Robyn being ill with the flu, it had been a pleasant day.

Hope you all enjoyed this new chapter. Feel free to rate and review if you like, and keep your eyes open for more.