Ella
"How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine. Really." Ella protested, feeling her face heat up more. "Well," she amended a second later with a fretful frown as her throbbing head tried to remind her of its existence. "My head hurts but otherwise I am fine."
"Yes, your cold must be trying to come back. Oh dear, I should have known better than let you go outside to play with Beth and Any yesterday!"
"Meg, it's a cold. She is not dying." Jo said, teasingly. Then her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "But are you going to be ready for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
Jo's eyes widened. "I take it back. She is dying. Did you forget about the play? How can you forget about the play! You are one of the key characters!"
Beth came back before Ella could say anything to make herself sound dumber or get angry, with a glass of water in one hand and a small brown bottle in the other. "Hannah said that she will have the tea ready for tea and that Ella better drinks every last drop. And she will make something nice and soft in case her throat hurts her" She announced with an important air and a glance that was full of pity for Ella. "She also said that Ella must take some of this tonic right away though."
"Oh, Ella. I would obey thought. It will help." Meg sighed with a wry face as she glanced at the bottle.
"Swallow it really fast. " Jo added helpfully as a spoonful of brown gunk was shoved in Ella's face. Ella scrunched her face up but managed to swallow it in a do or die manner that had Jo nodding with approval.
"That was vile!" Ella gasped, taking the offer of the water gratefully.
"Takes the skin off your tongue." Jo agreed, making a face.
"Just be grateful it's this." Meg sighed as she returned to her seat. "It could have been the fried onions."
"Oh dear! Think how funny that would have been."
"How horrid, you mean."
"If you want, I'll bring some of the kitties up to make you feel better?" Beth offered in a shy yet friendly manner.
"Thank you," Ella answered with a smile of her own.
"Are you sure?" Meg asked with a doubtful frown. "They do get underfoot dreadfully."
But it was too late. Beth had already vanished behind the kitchen door. Meg sighed and shrugged. "What will the rest of us buy? She asked as she took up another seat, leaving the easy chair free, and again took up her knitting. "I think Amy, Bella, and Ella are left."
"I said I was going to buy cologne," Amy said, looking hurt.
"Oh, okay."
Bella sighed, and Ella glanced her way. Both seemed to understand what the other was thinking in that moment. What were they to say, when they don't even remember this Marmee, or how much anything is? Bella finally spoke up. "Ella's not feeling well. I wouldn't trust what she says is a good idea anyway in her state. And I am not coming up with any good ideas. Every time I did, someone else said it. So I'm going to let you decide, Meg."
"Something to keep her warm, I guess," Ella added, wearily.
"Well, you each have your dollar. Oh, I don't know." Meg said, tugging at a small curl on her forehead.
"I do!" Jo exclaimed. "Marmee needs a shawl. She really needs a coat, but they are so expensive now. But a Shawl would be a big help, and if you two pull your dollars together, we can get a lovely warm one for her!"
"Just the thing!" Meg agreed happily.
"What is just the thing?" Beth asked as she entered the room with a pair of small kittens in her arms.
"Ella and Bella are getting a shawl for Marmee."
"Oh. That is a good idea."
"Good, now that is settled. We really must work on the play."
"In a minute, Jo. How are we going to give the things?"
"Put them on the table and bring her in and see her open the bundles. Don't you remember how we used to do on our own birthdays?" Answered Jo.
Ella paused in the act of cuddling a sweet-natured little gray to eye Jo with reluctant admiration. She found this girl to be grating, pushy and loud, not a good thing to deal with with a headache,
But she was growing to admire her quick thinking and inventive mind.
"I used to be so embarrassed when it was my turn to sit in the big chair with the crown on," Beth admitted bashfully, as she began yet another task, toasting bread before the fire and toasting her face at the same time. "And see you all come marching round to give the presents with a kiss. I liked the things and the kisses. But it was dreadful to have you sit looking at me while I opened the bundles."
"Let Marmee think we are getting things for ourselves, and then surprise her. We must go shopping tomorrow afternoon. Meg, there is soo much to do about the play." said Jo with her hands behind her back and her nose in the air.