A/N: I had so much fun spending a chapter with Miss Avery. She's a kick in the pants.
"Alright Tink, take care of mama today, okay?"
"Daddy, I cannot. I must go to school later, 'member?"
Adam chuckled and picked her up, kissing her cheeks.
"I know. But before you go to school and when you come home, keep an eye on her for me."
"Okay. You gotta leave now an' take the brothers to school?"
"Yeah. I'll miss you today."
"I will miss you too, so very most daddy."
"Be a good girl," he reminded, putting her down. "Have fun at school."
"I will daddy. Be safe at work. Goodbye brothers, gimme a kiss 'fore you leave!"
The boys both obliged, giving her quick pecks on the cheek as they headed out the door with Adam, leaving Avery alone in the entryway.
"Well Thomas, we'd better go check on mama. C'mon baby."
They trooped upstairs and into the bedroom, where Lindsay was sleeping piled under blankets.
"Mama, I am checking on you. How is you feelin'?"
"Ugh."
"You sound stuffy. You need chicken soup?"
"No baby, just let me sleep a little more before I take you to school."
"You gots a headache an' need some medicine? I can get it!"
"It's okay, daddy got me some before he left."
"He said to me to take care of you today. So what do I do to take care of you?"
"I just need some rest. Why don't you go play with Thomas for a bit?"
"Alright but if you need something, you let me know. I will be your nurse today 'cept for when I am at my school, okay?"
"Thanks honey."
Avery nodded and went downstairs into her bedroom, clucking her tongue at all the toys on the floor.
"Thomas, we live in a dirty place. I tell ya, you cannot get all yours toys outta your basket all the time! Let's clean up and get my purse packed for school."
Thomas lay down on the floor, propping her head up on her paws and watching Avery putter around the room, tossing things back into their appropriate places while she hummed to herself.
"Oh lookit this! This is my sock-topus. It was my friend long ago. Coley has a sock monkey an' him still sleeps with it but he don't want no one to know. And Ben gots a sock elephant but he just keeps it by his pillow. I will put the sock-topus in my toybox for right now. Well, well, well. Thomas, you been eatin' up here when you is not supposed to!"
Sighing heavily, she pulled a piece of rawhide out from under the bed and tossed it to the dog.
"I will make a 'ception this time but next time you is eatin' up here you will get put in time out and get no treats for one whole day. Now I just gotta make my bed pretty an' my room will be clean. That will make mama happy an' so she will feel better. Maybe I should clean up the boys room too. C'mon Thomas let's go check it out."
They wandered across the hall to the boys room, finding clothes strewn about the floor and the cat sleeping on Colton's bed.
"Hello Floppers. Me an' Thomas is here to clean up."
Thomas backed out of the room at the hiss that the cat directed at him. They didn't necessarily have problems with each other, but they respected the individual territories.
Avery picked up all the clothes on the floor and put everything in the hamper, then straightened the beds and stood back with a sigh.
"There, now it is clean an' happy. I suppose it's time for me to get ready for school. Not sure what to wear today. It is gettin' chilly outside so no more skirts," she said to herself, looking through her closet. "Think I will wear them old overalls. They were mama's when she was a little thing like me. Isn't that neato, Thomas? Yep, mama had lotsa farmin' adventures in these overalls. Her biggest brother picked her up by the strap and tossed her into the hay lots. That's what she telled me. Well I think I look cute! Too bad my feet got too big for my boots. I will just wear Sarah's old shoes. That's funny. I got lots of clothes from other people."
She finished getting dressed and put a few things in her backpack, then headed back upstairs.
"Mama, it is time to go to school. The clock has the nine number on it and some other numbers. I don't want to be late."
"Okay, I'm getting up."
She tossed the blankets off and shivered, then moved to change into something that was more appropriate for dropping her daughter off at school. She certainly couldn't go in the same pajamas she'd been wearing for two days.
"You is alright mama? You can drive?"
"Yes baby, I can drive."
"Because… if you need to… I will miss school."
Tears sprung to her eyes and Lindsay crouched down in front of her, pulling her in for a hug.
"Sweetie, school is your favorite thing all week. I would never ask you to miss school just so I could sleep. Nope, that would never do. I'll take you to school then come home and have a nice long bubble bath and make myself feel human again then I'll come pick you up and we can spend the rest of the day together."
"You mean it?"
"I mean it."
"I could still take care of you?"
"Of course. Come on, let's get going."
"Did ya notice I am wearin' yours old overalls mama? Don't I look cute?"
"You are the picture of adorable. Can I take a picture of you to send to granna?"
"Because I look like you when you were little?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, I will pose here by the window and then we will leave."
Lindsay chuckled and took the picture before they headed downstairs to get their coats on.
"I can't wait to see my friend Nicholas. He was on vacation to Disneyland last week. Today he will be back. I really like that kid. He is so very nice."
"I'm glad you have so many friends at school."
"Me too! Could maybe sometime Nicholas come over to our house after school?"
"Maybe. I'll talk to his mom later."
Avery nodded and climbed into her carseat, waving to Thomas who was perched on the back of the couch, looking out the window.
"Bye Thomas! Take care of mama when I am gone!"
"Maybe someday you and me could go to Disneyland together, Avery," Nicholas suggested, looking up from his paper. "Someday when I have a lot of money, I will take you there."
"Okay! An' I could have one of them churros?"
"You could have a hundred."
Avery smiled and continued to write numbers across her page, wanting to get them just right. She liked to be wild and crazy and messy but she also liked to have things tidy and organized and looking nice. If she could just make her 2's a little better, it would be a very good day.
"Today my mama said that you can come home to my house after school one day. Wanna do that? You could play with Thomas! Hers a great dog. Also sometimes my daddy is at home because mama is at work and he has the most best games. He likes to do messy projects."
"That will be fun. Could we go today?"
"Nah my mama is real sick. I am takin' care of her when I get home."
"Oh. Maybe next time."
"Yeah. What did you bring for a snack today?"
"I don't remember. I think some fruit. What did you bring?"
"Daddy packed it for me. It is cheese."
"You always have cheese for a snack."
"It is my favorite. I like the string kind the best. Mama says I cannot have just cheese for lunch anymore an' she said if I eat a real food for lunch then she will stop having just cereal. We shaked on it."
Nicholas laughed.
"Your mama and daddy sound like fun. My daddy is real great too. He is a great builder of buildings. Did you know he builded my house?"
"That is very amazing! All by his ownself?"
"No, he had helpers. He made me a room that is all about outer space. Sometime you will come over and see it."
"Is your mama nice?"
"Oh yes. She takes care of old people that need help at their house. Sometimes they come with her to get me and we have lunch together. The other day this guy Sidney came with her. I put my hand out to say hi, with manners and all and Sidney said "What is this for?" and I telled him it was for shakin'. He did not hear me right and he said to me "Who said anything about chicken?" Then me and mommy laughed. I like Sidney. When he was young he drove trains. He told me all about them. I think that would be a fun job someday."
Avery smiled and threw and arm around Nicholas' shoulders.
"I like that you and me is friends Nicholas. You got good stories."
"Thanks Avery."
They continued on their numbers for a few more minutes until it was time for the class to gather on the round rug in the middle of the room for a story. It was Avery's favorite part of the day, and she listened attentively to the story, imagining it all in her mind. She wished she could be a part of the story, to jump into the images on the page and take part in adventures. But she knew she would miss her family too much and would soon want to jump back out of the story again.
"Avery the story is over. It is time for a snack."
Avery opened her eyes, realizing that she had been imagining so hard she didn't even realize that the book had been finished.
"Oh thanks Nicholas. We will have a snack and then it will be time for clean up and go home. I sure hope my mama is doing well."
"I hope you don't get sick from her."
"Yeah, I need to be careful of germs," Avery agreed, opening her lunch box and taking out the strong cheese and juice box. "I will wear a mask."
"That's a good idea. What else will you do when you get home?"
"Oh just homework. I make pages for myself to do. I write names and numbers a lot. It keeps me in practice. And I will play with Thomas, probably dress-up. We have not played that in a long time. I will have lunch also and maybe a nap or a movie and then it will be time to get my brothers from school. Mama and me will maybe practice piano and the boys will do homework. Then daddy comes home and we eat dinner and then all of us play together before bed! I like my home so most."
"Sounds great," Nicholas nodded as Avery licked the string cheese wrapper.
"It is great. I will live there forever."
"Mama please stop your coughing. It is hurting you."
Lindsay shook her head and coughed into a tissue in response, aches and pains shooting through her body at the violent movement.
"I'm okay honey."
"No you are not. You are sick. Did you take your medicine?"
"No, not yet."
Avery nodded and went into the kitchen, finding the bottle of orange liquid on the counter. She knew this was the one to take during the day, the blue was for nighttime. She made sure it had the measuring cup on the top, then took it to the other room.
"How much you need mama?"
"I'll do it."
"No. I will do it or you will not take it. How much?"
"Be very careful and fill it up to the number 2."
"Oh, I practice writin' 2 today. I know this number. Here, you need open this."
Lindsay opened the cough syrup and Avery carefully poured it into the dosing cup, right up to the number 2.
"Here mama. Take this medicine and you will feel most better."
Lindsay smiled and obeyed then lay back against the couch miserably. She had thought it was starting to get better but she felt worse now than she had the last three days combined.
"Now, you just rest. I am going to fold the laundry."
"Baby, you don't have to do that."
"I know that mama. You fix my laundry all the time. It is my turn to help you. I will bring it here an' we can watch a movie together! You rest mama. Do not worry about a thing."
Lindsay chuckled and Avery went into the laundry room, grabbing a basket and filling it with clothes from the dryer then pushing it back out to the living room.
"There. Now I will put in a movie. What would you like? It is your choice for you are the sick one."
"Anything you put in is fine with me baby."
Avery went to the cabinet and looked for a few minutes, finally deciding on something and turning it on before going back to sit on the floor. She sorted the clothes into piles and began to fold them, having helped Lindsay a time or two. She was pretty good at folding towels and pants but she was going to need much more practice with shirts. She managed to finish half of it and turned around to check on Lindsay, finding her asleep.
"Oh mama. I am so sad you is sick. You rest, sweet mama. Get better so we can play soon."
"Mmm."
"I will be here folding if you need me."
She turned back to the task at hand and in about half an hour she had five stacks of clothing and two stacks of towels ready to be put away. Figuring she would leave it for the boys to take care of she went back into the laundry room and began to fill the washer with dirty clothes from the hamper. Once everything was inside she realized that she had no idea which buttons to push. Better leave that for daddy.
The boys would be getting home soon and they would be wanting a snack, so into the kitchen she went to see what she could find. There were apples and bananas of course, but she wanted to make something extra special. Pulling drawers open until she found what she wanted, she gathered the rest of her supplies and climbed up on the counter. Ten minutes later she had two shish-kebab skewers of alternating marshmallows, grapes and pepperoni slices. She briefly considered adding cheese but she wasn't allowed to use knives and the boys would not appreciate if she bit it into little chunks before serving it.
Sliding down from the counter she stretched her arms over her head and went to look at the clock, panicking when she saw what time it was.
"Oh no! Mama, mama! It is too late to get my brothers! Too late!"
"Huh?"
"The clock says!"
"Honey, Austin is bringing them home for me today."
"Oh. They must be arriving soon."
"Mm-hmm," Lindsay agreed, suppressing a grin.
"I sure wish I could snuggle with you."
"I know. I do too."
"It would make you feel better. Oh well. Go back to sleep mama. I got the brothers a snack all ready for their hungry mouths when they come home. You need to eat anything?"
"No sweetie. I'm good for now. Thank you for being such a good helper today."
"Oh, it is my pleasure! Now, snuggle down in the couch and take a snooze. Sleep makes the body well."
Lindsay smiled and obeyed, yawning a little and readjusting the pillow while Avery straightened the magazines and other miscellany on the coffee table.
"Mama, sissy, we're home!" Ben announced a few minutes later as he came in the door.
"Hello brothers."
"Austin bringed us home and she wants to check on mama."
"Okay but she must be careful of germs."
"I'll be careful," Austin chuckled, leaning down to kiss Avery's head. "Thanks for the warning."
"You are welcome. Well brothers, there is a snack for you in the kitchen. I maked it myself because mama was sleeping. After that you may put away the clothes and stuff I folded. Alright?"
"Boy sissy Aves, you really drive a hard bargain," Junior piped up from the doorway.
"Well Dan-yo, mama has been sick and she does most work 'round here for us. Time to pitch in because we love her."
"That is good. I am just glad that I don't have to do it."
"Have you been doing chores all day, Averylin?" Sarah asked, running her shoe back and forth against the porch.
"Yes Sarah, I did."
The two of them contemplated each other for a moment before Avery flounced off. She didn't like to see Sarah very much, it always reminded her that they were not very good friends anymore. It hurt her heart a lot and made her feel like everything was all wrong. She was glad to have her other friends and on the outside she made it seem like none of this bothered her at all, when really she would do anything in the world to have her Sarah back.
"Why are you wearing a Supergirl mask but not the outfit?" Austin questioned, having been convinced that Lindsay was doing alright and everything would be fine until Adam got home.
"To 'tect me from mama's germs," Avery explained.
"Oh, honey you need a different kind of mask for that."
"I do? But I spended so long puttin' a mask on Thomas too! Her had to be Hulk! An' now we mighta gotted her germs anyway?"
"You'll be fine, sweetie. And if you're not, I'm sure your mama will take care of you just like you did for her."
"Okay then."
"You kids be good until your daddy gets home. No sword fighting or anything."
"Don't give them ideas Austin Grace," Lindsay muttered from the couch.
"Anyway, be good."
"I will make sure Austin," Avery offered. "You can count on me."
Austin chuckled and lifted Avery into her arms, hugging her tightly.
"Thank you for taking such good care of my best friend today sweetie."
"Oh, you is welcome. She is my mama so I like to take care of her."
"You're doing a great job. I'll see you in a few days for family dinner okay?"
"Okay. Goodbye y'all. Have a safe walk home."
"Well hello there daddy! Lookit, the house is still in one piece and so is mama! I done a great job today!"
Adam smiled and hung his coat by the door, then joined his daughter in the kitchen.
"I'm so proud of you honey. You're such a grown up girl."
"I know this. Ooh, what is that you got? Is it a present for me for being a good girl today?"
"No, it's-"
"Oh, a present for mama because she is sick? You always give her most things when she is sick."
"No Tink, it's just dinner."
"Dinner? DINNER? I already maked dinner!" she whined, walking over to the fridge. "It was exotic!"
"What did you make honey?"
"Sandwiches! Peanut butter an' Fruit Loops! T'was to be delicious!"
"That does sound good honey. Why don't we have what I brought for dinner tonight and we can all take your sandwiches to work and school tomorrow?"
"Why can't we take your dinner tomorrow?"
"Because it's hot right now."
"Oh alright. But next time you check with me 'fore you get somethin'."
"Yes ma'am. Where's that mama of yours?"
"Hers upstairs. Still sleepin'. She is very tired. Her cough is not better daddy. I gived her medicine two times today an' she does not feel better. You might have to help her. I can do no more."
"Sometimes colds just like to stick around for a while. I'm going to go check on her before we eat. Want to come?"
"No thank you. I will set the table and get the boys. Make sure they wash their hands."
"Okay. I'll be right back."
He went upstairs and Avery climbed up on the counter, pulling plates down one by one and taking them to the table. Next was the silverware, she counted out the right parts and put them by the plates, adjusting here and there until it looked just how she liked it.
"Boys! Wash your hands for dinnertime!"
Two sets of feet thundered on the floor above her and she smiled, clucking her tongue gently.
"Those boys. So rambunctious," she said, glancing over at Thomas. "But I must love them still."
"We're here and washed, sissy. Where is dinner?"
"Daddy brunged it. In that bag in the kitchen. He is checking on mama. Shall we eat?"
Colton got the food out and they all began to dish up out of the cartons, talking about their day as they went.
"I think I am going to go to bed after dinner," Avery announced after a moment, poking at the spring roll on her plate. "I am so very most tired from taking care of mama and cleaning this house."
"I noticed that you cleaned up our dirty clothes today."
"Yes, I done that."
"Well thanks!"
"You are welcome, Coley."
"Sissy, I think it is silly that you are still in preschool. You are more grown up than most of the kids in my class! You should go to school with me."
"Oh Ben I would love doing that! I want to go to big school so most."
"Wouldn't you want to go to school with me?" Colton asked.
"Okay, I will go with Ben in the morning and Coley after lunch. How is that?"
"That would be fun Aves."
"I think so too."
"Hey, you started without us."
The kids turned to the doorway guiltily, smiling.
"We was hungry," Avery explained. "Didn't want it to get cold you know?"
"Did you at least leave enough for us?"
"Yes, we done. Mama I am glad you are up. How do you feel?"
"Tired and achy. Thank you for taking care of me."
"You are welcome. I finded out today that you do lots and lots of work for us to keep our home nice and so we have food an' stuff. Makes me not want to be a bad girl ever, ever again. Here, have this won-ton, I do not like them much."
"Thanks baby."
They all finished dinner together, the boys regaling the family with stories of their day at school and all that they had learned. Ben's campaign for class president was in full swing and his slogan had become a playground chant. He was gaining popularity which seemed to be something he wasn't all that fond of. Colton was glad that he himself had never been involved in politics; it was much more interesting to watch from the sides. For her part, Avery wasn't interesting in the voting or the responsibilities of class president but the title sure seemed appealing. She wondered if she would ever get the chance to be a president.
"I am most tired," she declared after a while. "May I go to bed?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes daddy, I am sure. I just want to go rest and snuggle in my bed."
"Alright. Come here and kiss me goodnight then."
She slid down from her chair and skipped to him, laughing when he lifted her up and blew raspberries on both of her cheeks.
"I love you Tink."
"I love you most, daddy. Goodnight."
"Can I come and tuck you in?" Lindsay asked hopefully.
"You could do that while you are sick?"
"Yes, I can."
"Okay! Come with me and help me pick my jammies!"
Lindsay followed Avery upstairs and helped her get dressed, surprised at how clean her bedroom was.
"Will you feel better tomorrow mama?"
"I hope so. I have to go to work."
"What if you do not feel better?"
"Then I'll stay home and daddy can take care of me."
"I did not do a good job?"
"You did a great job, baby. I just think you might like a break."
"Oh. Well maybe. Tuck me in most tight?"
Lindsay nodded and obliged, making sure all the stuffed animals were in the right spot and the pillows were just where Avery liked them.
"I love you mama."
"I love you too Averylin. Sweet dreams."
She turned the light off and started to head out of the room when Avery called her back.
"Could I go to Disneyland with Nicholas later?"
"What?"
"He said he will take me. I think he is in love with me."
"Oh honey. I think it's going to be a long time before he saves up enough money."
"But then I could go?"
"If he saves up the money all on his own, you can go."
"Okay, thanks mama I will tell him! Goodnight."
Lindsay crossed the room again and knelt down next to the bed, pressing a kiss to Avery's forehead.
"You're so grown up, Avery. Try to slow down a little."
"Okay mama, I will try for you."
"Goodnight sweetie."
"Night mama."