CHAPTER 4:

At about 2 p.m., Aubrey and Finn were waiting in the exam room of the doctor's office. Aubrey was nervously pacing the floor, hoping for some positive news, while Finn was sitting on the exam table.

"Mommy, is there a drink machine around here? I'm getting thirsty." Finn asked, whimpering in pain.

"We'll get something for you to drink after we're done here," Aubrey promised as Finn's doctor came into the exam room.

"Hello there. How is everyone today?" Dr. Hendrix asked.

"Hey, Finn, look who's here to see you," Aubrey said, trying to be positive.

"So, what can I do for you today?" Dr. Hendrix asked.

"Doctor, I think my son could have chickenpox," Aubrey explained.

"Well, there's only one way to know. Let's have a look at you." Dr. Hendrix said.

He picked up Finn's shirt and looked at the spots covering the boy's chest and back. He then proceeded to take Finn's temperature. The thermometer showed a temperature of 101.

"Wow, you really do have a fever. Looks like you'll be home sick for a while." Aubrey said.

"Yep, it's official: your son definitely has chickenpox," Dr. Hendrix confirmed.

"Oh, no," Aubrey said, worried.

"I'd recommend wearing disposable gloves when you're touching him or near him, as well as a surgical mask. And try to limit touching as much as you can. I'm going to prescribe some Zovirax for him. Likewise, you could also give him some sugar-free popsicles as well as apply some calamine lotion to make him more comfortable and stop the itching," Dr. Hendrix added before handing Aubrey a written prescription.

"Okay. Well, thank you, doctor," Aubrey said.

"My pleasure. If his chickenpox isn't gone within the next two weeks, come back," Dr. Hendrix said.

"Will do, doctor," Aubrey said.

After the explanation, the doctor gave Aubrey some disposable gloves to put on so she could help Finn get down from the exam table, and the two left the doctor's office.


After they left the doctor's office, Aubrey saw a vending machine and remembered to buy Finn a drink as she had promised earlier. As they reached the parking lot, Finn started to ask questions.

"Am I really going to have to miss school for two weeks?" Finn asked.

"I'm afraid so, sweetie. But don't be upset," Aubrey said reassuringly.

"What can I do in the meantime?" Finn asked.

"Well, while you're on bed rest, you could watch a lot of stuff on Disney Plus," Aubrey suggested.

"Really?" Finn asked.

"Of course. You love Disney movies, so you could watch a lot of that stuff," Aubrey said.

"Okay. I still hope I'll be better in time for trick-or-treating," Finn said.

"We'll see how it goes, okay?" Aubrey said.

"Okay," Finn said.

"All we can do is hope for the best," Aubrey said,

As Aubrey and Finn approached the car, Aubrey made two important phone calls before heading home.

"Hey, Aubrey," Alice said, answering.

"Hey, Alice. I need a favor from you," Aubrey said.

"What's up?" Alice asked.

"Can you run to the supermarket and pick up some sugar-free popsicles, as well as run to the drugstore to get calamine lotion? Finn has chickenpox, and the doctor recommended that he has some. I'd get them myself, but I don't want Finn getting all the other shoppers sick," Aubrey added.

"No problem. I'm actually at the supermarket right now, so I'll pick some up while I'm here," Alice said.

"Thank you so much. You're such a big help," Aubrey said.

"No problem. Later," Alice said, hanging up.

After the call, Aubrey then called Chad to update him on the situation.

"Hey, babe. How'd it go?" Chad asked.

"Well, it turns out Finn really does have chickenpox," Aubrey recapped.

"Oh, wow. So, I guess he's going to be home from school for a while, huh?" Chad asked.

"Yeah, so the doctor suggested I give him some sugar-free popsicles as well as some calamine lotion and then hope for the best," Aubrey relayed.

"Need me to pick those up for you?" Chad asked.

"I already called Alice and asked her to pick those up for me," Aubrey added.

"Oh, okay. There are some clean sheets of Finn's in the dryer. I'll remake his bed for him, so it's ready for when you two get home," Chad said.

"Okay, thank you. Also, one more thing…" Aubrey said.

"Yeah?" Chad asked.

"You know those surgical masks we keep in the bathroom?" Aubrey asked.

"Yeah," Chad said.

"I need you to put yours on. Finn and I will be home soon," Aubrey said.

"Okay. See you at home," Chad said.

"Later," Aubrey said, hanging up.

After the call, Aubrey put on a surgical mask that she had brought just in case and handed one to Finn to put on before starting her car to head home.